Cencora report flags payer restrictions squeezing health-system pharmacy patient access

• Cencora published a Fall 2026 survey of 110+ US health system pharmacy leaders, flagging growth plans constrained by payer restrictions.
• More than half described strategies as growth-oriented; 87% prioritized pharmacy financial performance, 85% biosimilars or formulary optimization.
• Specialty access remained a key drag; 69% of specialty prescriptions were still dispensed outside health systems despite faster internal therapy starts.
• Payer network restrictions affected 77% of respondents; payer approval requirements affected 74%, limiting revenue capture from existing patient volumes.
• Cell and gene therapy readiness lagged; only 5% said pharmacy leads these programs despite universal pharmacy involvement among current adopters.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Cencora Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 07, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.