Xccelerate 2026 | Jim McCaslin on Why Independent Pharmacies Are at a Turning Point

Jim McCaslin has spent 25 years on the drug wholesale side, working with thousands of independent community pharmacies. In this episode, he breaks down what's actually holding pharmacies back and what the path forward looks like. Jim covers the three biggest challenges pharmacies face right now: shrinking reimbursements, chronic staffing problems, and fragmented technology that forces pharmacists to juggle multiple systems to engage patients on basic care opportunities. He also gets into why many pharmacy owners default to "if it's not broken, don't fix it" and why that mindset is no longer sustainable. The conversation covers: - How PBM reform and the expanded scope of practice could change what pharmacies can do and earn - Why AI tools and workflow solutions like Equip's CoPilot matter for day-to-day pharmacy operations - What pharmacies capturing 70%+ of clinical opportunities are doing differently - Why building chronic care services is a team sport and how to start with just one service - How rural healthcare funding and legislative changes are creating real openings for independent pharmacies Jim works with a network of 5,200 pharmacies nationally on the third-party PSAO side. His perspective is grounded in what he sees working and what still needs to change, across that network every day. If you work in an independent pharmacy, support it, or build for it, this is a practical conversation about where the industry stands today and where it's headed. 📍 Explore more about Xccelerate: https://innovaccer.com/xccelerate-sessions?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=XccSessions26 #HealthcareLeadership #HealthcareInnovation #Xccelerate26