On May 29, 2025, CVS Health® filed a lawsuit to block Arkansas Act 624, a harmful law that will shut down 23 CVS Pharmacy® locations, eliminate hundreds of jobs and drive-up costs for Arkansans. This unconstitutional law puts local politics ahead of patients, restricting their access to life-saving medications and undermining fair competition.
The issues
Act 624 is designed to target CVS Health, not to protect patients. Arkansas lawmakers crafted the law to exclude CVS Health’s pharmacy operations while protecting in-state pharmacy businesses, which often charge higher prices. There is no way around the fact that Act 624 will limit patients’ options and increase the cost of their medicines.
For these reasons, Act 624 violates the Constitution’s Dormant Commerce Clause, which prevents states from discriminating against or unfairly burdening out-of-state business. Act 624 also is unlawful because it violates Equal Protection rights and is preempted by federal law. We have a right and responsibility to challenge this harmful policy to protect patient care and fair competition.
The facts
Our 23 CVS Pharmacy locations in Arkansas are currently open and will continue to operate for the immediate future. We have not announced any plans to close stores at this time and we’re evaluating any and all options we may have to keep our pharmacies open, including through this legal action.
With Act 624 signed into law, the Arkansas legislature and governor are forcing 23 community pharmacies to close by January 1, 2026, including some of the very few that are open 24 hours; fire more than 500 local health care workers; erode access to specialized pharmacy care for the 10,000 Arkansas patients with serious conditions who rely on additional support; and increase the cost of Arkansas health benefits by millions of dollars each year.
Facts should matter more than rhetoric, and a simple economic analysis could have avoided all this chaos. Factoring in both closures AND openings, there are 14 more independent pharmacies operating in Arkansas today than there were in 2019, and CVS Caremark® reimburses independent pharmacies in Arkansas more than it does CVS pharmacies. Small businesses, employers, health plans and others are going to have to pay more for prescription drugs starting next year because of this new law.