OneroRx bucks trend

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – In an environment where both chain and independent pharmacies are exiting certain markets,  OneroRx is building up its presence, most recently with two EverCare Pharmacy locations in Princeton and Trenton, Mo. 

The company, a leading regional provider of pharmacy and telepharmacy services, now has 67 locations across seven states, including community, specialty and long-term care pharmacies and one DME company.  

“We're finding that very frequently that when a chain pharmacy in the community or an independent pharmacy closes, we pick up those scripts, otherwise those folks have to drive 20 miles to the next pharmacy,” said Joseph Dunham, president and CEO of OneroRx. “Our mission is to offer integrated pharmacy services in underserved communities. That's the market opportunity we're entering into.” 

The estimated number of independent community pharmacies fell from 19,432 locations in June 2023 to 18,984 locations in June of 2024, a loss of more than one independent pharmacy per day, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association. 

Whether it's an independent or a chain pharmacy, reimbursement pressures remain the biggest challenge to their viability, largely because of pharmacy benefit managers, says Dunham, who estimates OneroRx will be under-reimbursed by $3.2 million by PBMs this year. 

“If it costs $90 for us to procure, we probably got $88 from the PBM,” he said. “The consumer believes that they have great insurance and that their insurance covers for the cost of medications but when that doesn't happen it puts a lot of stress on independent pharmacies to keep the doors open.” 

Community pharmacies are going to have to innovate better and faster if they want to stay viable, Dunham says. OneroRx is in the early stages of rolling out Pharmaself24, an automated prescription dispensing system that will allow patients greater flexibility on picking up prescriptions, without adding store or employee hours, and will the company to maintain its clinically-focused, high-touch model, he says. 

“We're talking to the patient, we understand their disease states, we're interacting with the providers,” he said. “With PBMs clearly telling us to lower costs, while maintaining a high touch, innovation is going to have (to happen). We're very optimistic that this is another way to augment our customer service.”