As we celebrate our family’s 65-year legacy of serving Morrow, Gilliam, and Wheeler counties through Murray’s Drug, we’re reminded of the values that have made our independent pharmacy a staple in these rural communities. To us, family isn’t just our name on the sign — it’s you, our customers. Two of our children are now pharmacists and eager to carry on this legacy, but independents like us are getting wiped out by unfair competition from powerful pharmacy benefit managers — PBMs. Without PBM reform, essential health care access for thousands of Oregonians is in jeopardy.

From our locations in Heppner, Condon, and Boardman, we’ve built a network of care that extends to towns without pharmacies of their own, including Fossil, Lexington, Ione, Arlington, Irrigon and Umatilla. Our free delivery service ensures that no neighbor goes without needed medicine, regardless of how remote their home. This personalized care and local knowledge are the backbone of our rural communities, and it’s hard to put a value on the relationships we’ve established with families and community members over the years.

The crisis facing Oregon’s pharmacies is undeniable. Since 2008, over 200 pharmacies have closed their doors due to PBMs’ predatory practices, with five more announcing closures in late April. This devastating trend affects not only independents like us but also large chains. Oregon now ranks worst in the lower United States for pharmacy access, leaving many without access to essential health care services. Many other states have already taken steps to curb abusive practices from Maine to Arkansas to California.

PBMs’ business model forces us to sell medications below cost, making it impossible for independent pharmacies to sustain operations. We’ve worked tirelessly to adapt, but the system is increasingly rigged against us. That’s why we’ve joined forces with lawmakers such as Sen. Ron Wyden and Congressman Cliff Bentz at the federal level to push for PBM reform for all pharmacies. Despite this bipartisan support, Congress has failed to act. This is why it’s even more important for legislators in Salem to join Rep. Greg Smith in leading the effort as a lead sponsor to pass House Bill 3212.

House Bill 3212 offers a critical lifeline for independent pharmacies like ours. This legislation acknowledges the vital role we play in rural communities and provides a much-needed solution to the PBM-driven crisis. It’s not a cure-all, but it’s a crucial step towards ensuring that health care services remain accessible to those who need them most.

We urge Oregonians to contact their legislators today and demand action on HB 3212. Our rural communities deserve better than to be abandoned by the very system that’s supposed to support them. We need Salem’s help to protect the heart of our communities before more essential health care services disappear forever.

As we look to the future, we’re not just fighting for our family’s business; we’re fighting for the well-being of our neighbors, friends and community members. We’re fighting for the personalized care and local knowledge that make a real difference in people’s lives. The clock is ticking, and we need your voice to make a difference. Let’s work together to ensure that rural Oregon remains a place where health care is accessible, and community pharmacies such as Murray’s Drug can continue to thrive.

By passing HB 3212, we can take a significant step toward creating a more equitable health care system that values the contributions of independent pharmacies. We owe it to ourselves, our children and the communities we serve to take action. The fate of rural Oregon’s health care hangs in the balance, and we can’t afford to wait any longer. Thank you for your continued support — we’re in this together and your voice will make a difference.

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John and Ann Murray own and operate Murray’s Drug, an independent pharmacy providing services to customers in Morrow, Gilliam, Umatilla and Wheeler counties.