Sen. Richard Blumenthal called for stronger anti-trust laws to protect Connecticut's independent pharmacies.

Blumenthal met with Westport pharmacist Russ Levine, who established "Colonial Druggists" more than 50 years ago.

He says the 90-year-old is "a true front-line hero" and shouldn't be in danger of going out of business, like five other independent pharmacies in the area have done in recent years.

Blumenthal says it's an outrage that third party administrators of prescription drug programs for commercial health plans, known as PBM's, are putting a stronghold on pharmacists like Levine.

"It is scandalous that these huge Bournemouth pharmacy benefit managers are able to drive out of business these independent pharmacies, which means higher prices and fewer choices for consumers, and that's why I want to see stronger enforcement of antitrust laws to protect them," Blumenthal says.

Levine says he could be forced out of business if stronger laws are not enacted to protect consumers, as well as independent pharmacies.

"The frustrating part about it is we have no control over it, pharmacy does not have any control over what our reimbursements are anymore," he says.