Hospitals and health systems face mounting pharmacy-related challenges across access, affordability, workforce and supply chain, according to the American Hospital Association’s 2026 Environmental Scan.
The report, published Dec. 3, was designed as a roadmap for hospital leaders and covers financial trends, developments in AI, chronic disease trends and more issues.
Here are five things to know:
1. Prescription drug denials are rising.
Private insurers denied 22.9% of prescription drug claims in 2023, up from 18.3% in 2016. The uptick poses a strain on hospital and ambulatory pharmacies, particularly as systems work to improve medication adherence and chronic disease management.
2. Patients’ cost concerns are affecting treatment adherence.
Twenty-three percent of adults reported taking over-the-counter drugs instead of filling a prescription due to cost. Another 36% said they skipped or delayed care altogether for financial reasons — a red flag for hospitals focused on population health and avoidable readmissions.
3. Pharmacist burnout tops all healthcare roles.
Pharmacy professionals reported a 65% burnout rate in 2024 — the highest among measured clinical occupations. That figure exceeds burnout rates for nurses (53%) and physicians (50%), and could threaten medication safety, stewardship programs and long-term workforce retention.
4. Drug supply chains remain fragile.
More than 90% of generic sterile injectable drugs rely on materials sourced overseas. Hospitals continue to depend on globally distributed pharmaceutical inputs, exposing them to price volatility, shortages and geopolitical disruptions.
5. Drug costs now account for 9% of hospital spending.
Pharmaceutical expenses represent a growing share of hospital budgets, alongside the 13% spent on supplies. With inflation still outpacing Medicare reimbursement, many systems have limited capacity to absorb further pharmacy-related cost increases.
