{"id":664686,"date":"2026-05-25T20:21:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T20:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/664686\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T20:21:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T20:21:09","slug":"hixson-pharmacist-says-cvs-lawsuit-could-delay-tennessee-pharmacy-reform-for-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/664686\/","title":{"rendered":"Hixson pharmacist says CVS lawsuit could delay Tennessee pharmacy reform for years"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>HIXSON, Tenn. \u2014 A Hixson pharmacist says CVS is now moving into \u201cthe next phase\u201d of its fight against Tennessee\u2019s new pharmacy law.<\/p>\n<p>After warning lawmakers it could close stores in Tennessee, CVS is now suing the state over legislation targeting pharmacy benefit managers, known as PBMs.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/newschannel9.com\/news\/local\/tennessee-bans-pbms-from-owning-pharmacies-what-will-this-mean-for-cvs-locations#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">As we reported<\/a>, the law signed by Governor Bill Lee would restrict PBM-owned pharmacies in Tennessee.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"File photo: Getty Images.\" class=\"ImageEmbed_image__qZBo_\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/68c5acaf-b0f0-4373-b209-cbc6ef0070bc-pharmacistgenericviagettyimages.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>File photo: Getty Images.<\/p>\n<p>CVS recently backed away from earlier warnings that all of its Tennessee stores could close if the measure became law.<\/p>\n<p>Now, the company says stores will remain open while the lawsuit moves through court.<\/p>\n<p>Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/newschannel9.com\/news\/local\/tennessee-bans-pbms-from-owning-pharmacies-what-will-this-mean-for-cvs-locations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tennessee bans PBMs from owning pharmacies: What will this mean for CVS locations?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Robbie Eskridge, director of pharmacy at Hitchcock Family Pharmacy in Hixson, says he believes the company never intended to shut down locations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI truthfully felt that CVS was bluffing about the closing,\u201d Eskridge said.<\/p>\n<p>He says the lawsuit appears aimed at delaying enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re just going to tie it up in courts and make it go on for who knows how long,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>PBMs act as middlemen between insurance companies, drug manufacturers and pharmacies.<\/p>\n<p>Critics argue they drive up prescription prices and hurt independent pharmacies.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"File photo: WPDE.\" class=\"ImageEmbed_image__qZBo_\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/83436a8b-8096-46f9-bf42-7dbf3785244e-HOPECVSSTORY1.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>CVS has defended the current system and says Tennessee lawmakers are putting politics ahead of patients.<\/p>\n<p>Eskridge disagrees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a national pharmacy reform that needs to happen,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>He says many customers worried about losing access to medications should know other pharmacies could absorb patients if closures ever happened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe people that are there are great,\u201d he said about CVS employees. \u201cBut this decision is CVS making.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Eskridge also says he expects the legal battle to prevent immediate changes from taking effect.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to fully go through until all this lawsuit stuff is figured out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Several other states have also pursued laws aimed at limiting PBMs, leading to similar court fights.<\/p>\n<p>Read the full lawsuit below:<\/p>\n<p>Depend on us to keep you posted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"HIXSON, Tenn. \u2014 A Hixson pharmacist says CVS is now moving into \u201cthe next phase\u201d of its 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