CVS Health has denied reports that it plans to close its Arkansas pharmacy locations, saying all 23 of its stores in the state will remain open and continue to operate for the foreseeable future, according to a statement provided to NTD News.
“We have NOT announced any plans to close stores and we're evaluating any and all options we may have to keep our pharmacies open,” CVS spokeswoman Amy Thibault said. “All of our 23 Arkansas stores are currently open and will continue to operate for the immediate future. We're doing everything we can to continue to provide pharmacy services to our 340,000+ Arkansas pharmacy patients.”
The statement comes in response to what CVS describes as “incorrect reporting over the weekend” regarding the future of its Arkansas operations, as news reports alleged CVS was planning to close all of its stores in the state.
Thibault emphasized that CVS is committed to maintaining pharmacy access for patients across the state, even as the company faces new regulatory challenges.
The new law prohibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—companies that negotiate drug prices among insurers, pharmacies, and manufacturers—from owning or operating pharmacies in Arkansas. The law will revoke or deny permits for pharmacies affiliated with PBMs, such as CVS Caremark, unless they change their business structure.
CVS contends that the new law will have sweeping consequences for both patients and the state’s health care system. The company says that the legislation will result in the loss of more than 500 local health care jobs and diminish access to specialized pharmacy services for thousands of Arkansans with serious medical needs. Additionally, CVS warns that the law will drive up health benefit costs for Arkansas employers and small businesses.
“Facts should matter more than rhetoric, and a simple economic analysis could have avoided all this chaos,” Thibault said.
She noted that there are currently 14 more independent pharmacies operating in Arkansas than in 2019, and that CVS Caremark reimburses independent pharmacies in the state at rates 61 percent higher than for its own CVS pharmacies.
Thibault also challenged several claims made by supporters of HB 1150. She pointed out that proponents of the bill have acknowledged their intent to force the closure of more than 140 pharmacies in Arkansas.
The company also said the characterization of HB 1150 as a PBM bill is inaccurate, calling it instead a “pharmacy closure bill.”
Thibault stated, “The state Legislature and the Arkansas Insurance Department can and do strictly regulate PBM practices, without forcing pharmacies to close that hundreds of thousands of Arkansans rely on for life-saving health care.”
Addressing the claim that PBMs are responsible for driving independent pharmacies out of business, CVS said that independent pharmacies are essential to its pharmacy networks.
Thibault noted that in 2024, Arkansas saw a net loss of only one independent pharmacy.
As the January 2026 deadline approaches, CVS says it remains committed to exploring all available options to keep its Arkansas pharmacies open and to continue serving its patients.