ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Small, independent pharmacies told First Alert 4 they’re facing big losses and getting squeezed to the breaking point, but you could pay the price.

Pharmacist Jerry Callahan opened the doors to The Medicine Shoppe in Pacific, Missouri, seven years ago. He told First Alert 4 that those who call on the pharmacy for prescriptions are like family.

“We go out of our way to take care of our patients,” Callahan said.

Callahan said the quality care that thousands of people rely on is now at risk.

“There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t fill a prescription below cost,” he said.

Callahan said he has to buy name-brand prescriptions directly from drug manufacturers, often paying thousands of dollars up front. But when a pharmacy benefit manager — or PBM — re

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