08/24/2026
Many of you have asked how my time at the Capitol went this past year. To sum it up in two words: not great. While it is a complicated system to explain in a single facebook post, we will speak to it briefly as the upcoming election is important for small pharmacies and small business in general. As it stands, independent pharmacies like ours are often reimbursed BELOW the cost for us to buy the drugs, while large corporate pharmacies receive a higher reimbursement. Our Oklahoma legislators agreed with small pharmacy advocates that this is unfair and places a huge burden on local pharmacy. They recognized the importance of mom and pop pharmacies as an invaluable asset to Oklahoma communities. The Senate and House passed legislation aimed at increasing prescription drug price transparency that would hold insurance companies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) accountable. This would allow us to receive fair reimbursement for pharmacy dispensing fees and drug costs. Something that most would agree is pretty important to keep the doors open for small pharmacies.
Unfortunately, Governor Stitt vetoed every one of these bills that made it through the Legislature. When legislators considered overriding those vetoes, the White House allegedly threatened local lawmakers.
That experience made it clear to us how important it is to have a governor who understands and supports independent pharmacies and, most importantly, the patients we serve.
That is why Kristin and I, as indepedenent pharmacy owners, are proud to support Gentner Drummond for Governor. Gentner has stood up for independent pharmacies long before running for governor. As Attorney General, he took on CVS/Caremark, the Pharmacy Benefit Manager for plans like HealthChoice, which is used by many of our current patients. He secured a $32 million settlement over allegations involving unfair reimbursements to many Oklahoma pharmacies in the same position as us. In short, if it wasn't for the actions of Mr. Drummond, we would have been in a world of hurt after taking over the pharmacy two years ago. And while this has helped, there is still a long way to go in what feels like an uphill battle.
Drummond is also fighting to protect your right as a patient to choose the pharmacy you trust. No one should be forced to choose a huge corporate pharmacy. As a pharmacist, I see firsthand how decisions made at the Capitol and by insurance companies and PBMs affect our patients. We believe Oklahoma needs a governor who will stand up for patients, independent pharmacies, and competition in healthcare.
While we know there are many different issues when you are choosing who to vote for, please keep your small pharmacies and small businesses in mind when you read up on the candidates. We genuinely believe that small businesses are the heartbeat of Oklahoma and we hope to show up for your families, our schools, and our community for years to come. We’re proud to support Gentner Drummond, just as he has supported our small pharmacy. We hope you’ll take the time to learn more about him and consider supporting him too this week.
The Davenport Family
