In 2026, employers are facing the steepest health care cost spike in over a decade, while employees are struggling to access the care they need. A new research report from the Health Action Alliance points to a solution that's likely just around the corner: the neighborhood pharmacy.

The report, commissioned by NACDS, is featured in a new article in BenefitsPRO highlighting how pharmacy-based care can improve employee health, reduce costs, and increase access to care without shifting more expenses onto workers. And the infrastructure is already in place; 96.5% of Americans live within 10 miles of a pharmacy.

Pharmacy-led chronic disease management can reduce hospitalizations and emergency visits, research shows, and pharmacy-based hypertension care alone could save the health care system trillions of dollars over three decades. The report shows strong employee support for pharmacy services, with nearly nine in 10 workers viewing pharmacy-based care positively and seven in 10 saying it would improve their health.

Employers are noticing the potential: 73% believe pharmacy services would reduce employees’ out-of-pocket spending, 58% are open to expanding pharmacy options. While awareness remains low, the report outlines simple steps employers can take to expand pharmacy-based services in their health plans and communities.

“Employers understand they need new strategies to control costs while keeping workers healthy and productive,” said Stephen Massey, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of HAA. “When pharmacy services show consistent positive returns on investment and employees overwhelmingly support these options, the business case writes itself.”

Read the article on BenefitsPRO and download the full report here.