IRVING, Texas — Independent pharmacies continue to face a host of formidable challenges, and Health Mart, the pharmacy franchise program owned by McKesson Corp., remains focused on developing solutions to help independents succeed in a daunting landscape for retail pharmacy.
In 2025 Health Mart and Health Mart Atlas, the nation’s largest pharmacy services administrative organization (PSAO), achieved major progress on multiple fronts in their mission to deliver a comprehensive suite of solutions to support their member pharmacies.
For starters, Health Mart updated its website (Healthmart.com) to make it easier for patients to find their local Health Mart pharmacy and direct them to each pharmacy’s individual website. According to Crystal Lennartz, president of Health Mart and Health Mart Atlas, the revamped website is already helping improve online visibility and enabling member pharmacies to connect with patients more easily.
The past year also saw Health Mart launch a new Vaccine Optimization Solution that gives member pharmacies access to competitive pricing on selected vaccines while allowing them the flexibility to purchase what they need. Lennartz pointed out that the program enables pharmacies to increase their immunization rates, which can generate a potentially significant revenue stream.
In addition, the Health Mart Perks program that was introduced in 2024 was expanded in several important ways. The program provides member pharmacies exclusive access to trusted vendors at discounts up to 70% for products and services such as script delivery, compounding services, advertising, printing and shipping as well as technology services.
Last year Health Mart added a number of innovative technology vendors, including one that offers AI-powered pharmacy assistants that provide patients 24/7 access to a pharmacist. Through its partnership with Pinpoint Community Solutions, Health Mart also continued to introduce automated inventory tools that help ensure essential medicines are on the pharmacy shelf when needed.
“Together, these technologies allow pharmacists to spend more of their time building patient relationships and providing higher-value clinical services,” Lennartz said.
The company also launched a new partnership with Pharmacy Profiles, which provides credential verification services for both Health Mart and Health Mart Atlas members. As a result, pharmacists who are expanding their clinical services offerings can benefit from a streamlined credentialing process.
Obtaining proper reimbursement continues to be a serious hurdle for community pharmacies, and Health Mart Atlas has bolstered its reimbursement support with such tools as ProviderPay and McKesson Reimbursement Advantage. These applications help pharmacies ensure they are being paid appropriately for the care they provide and further help members understand reimbursement trends and the overall financial health of their operations.
This broad range of support for Health Mart’s member pharmacies paid off, as the franchise chain was recognized as No. 1 in customer satisfaction among chain drug store pharmacies in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S.Pharmacy Study. Health Mart’s score of 759 was far above the average satisfaction score of 643 for chain drug stores.
The advocacy efforts of Health Mart and McKesson over the course of several years finally bore fruit when pharmacy benefits manager reform was signed into law in February. The companies remain committed to working with policy makers and industry partners to support the successful implementation of long-needed reforms. In that connection, both McKesson and Health Mart support such key pharmacy advocacy organizations as the American Pharmacists Association, the National Community Pharmacy Association and the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy.
"We believe reforms should continue to improve transparency at the point of prescribing and the pharmacy counter, reducing costs for patients while increasing quality and value,” Lennartz said.
Both McKesson and Health Mart are committed to elevating the practice of pharmacy and securing recognition of the critical role independents play, especially in rural and medically underserved communities. Both are part of the Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition, which is a group of organizations that represent pharmacy in supporting legislation that would enable patients to receive care from pharmacists.
In addition, the McKesson Amplify program supports state pharmacy associations in their advocacy efforts to empower pharmacists, pharmacy owners and their teams to provide vital services and exceptional patient care.
“Community pharmacies are facing real economic and operational pressures right now, from profit growth not always keeping pace with revenues to rising costs and increasingly complex regulatory requirements,” said Lennartz. “But even with those pressures, pharmacists remain one of the most accessible health care providers in the country, and customers value their relationships with pharmacists. This is where we see tremendous opportunity ahead for our independent Health Mart pharmacies to continue serving their communities with expanded clinical care tailored to each individual.”
Health Mart
KEY EXECUTIVE
Crystal Lennartz, President, Health Mart and
Health Mart Atlas
HEADQUARTERS
6555 State Highway 161, Irving, Texas 75039
Phone: (855) 458-4678
Website: healthmart.com
TRADE CLASS — Drug Chain
Full-year results
Pharmacy Sales — $18 billion*
Overall Sales — $19.3 billion*
Number of Health Mart and Health Mart Atlas
pharmacies — 6,332
Number of states operating — 50, plus Puerto Rico
* CDR estimate. Health Mart, a franchisor, is a unit
of McKesson Corp. and does not report revenue.
