Several retail pharmacy chains have shuttered some of their stores this year, with more on the way for others, like Rite Aid, which filed for bankruptcy in May. It could create what some refer to as “pharmacy deserts,” areas in which drugstores and the additional services they provide may not be available for miles.
And in areas where other pharmacies are picking up the slack, it could have an impact on current customers.
“Closures of major chain pharmacies often create ripple effects across the community,” E. Michael Murphy, an assistant professor of clinical pharmacy at The Ohio State University, told Nexstar via email.
Nearby pharmacies, independent or part of a chain, can see “a sudden increase in patients,” he explained, which could “lead to longer lines, and increase strain on the health care team.”
It could also disrupt your medical care.
Shuttering pharmacies in larger cities, like New York City and Philadelphia, may have limited impacts. Take, for example, a Rite Aid located in Philadelphia that has been designated for closure. A three-minute walk down the road will take you to a Walgreens and a local pharmacy.
Within smaller communities, that may not be the case. Customers may need to drive to a nearby town to pick up their prescriptions, which “could have some negative consequences on their adherence to their medication,” Lucas A. Berenbrok, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, explained to Nexstar.
“For those without reliable transportation, especially older adults or people with disabilities, traveling even a few extra miles can be a serious barrier,” Murphy said. That could lead to delayed access to prescriptions and missed dosages.
Closing pharmacies also reduces health access points for people. In addition to filling prescriptions, pharmacies are able to provide vaccines, chronic disease management, urgent consultations, over-the-counter treatments, and certain health tests.
“There’s a lot more going on at the pharmacy now than ever before,” Berenbrok explained, outlining how pharmacists helped to administer the COVID vaccine during the pandemic, for example, and the additional services they can provide in some states.
He went on to explain that while online pharmacies can help fill the void of shuttered drugstores, they’re largely unable to accommodate the additional services pharmacies provide.
“They also assume reliable internet access, digital literacy, and stable housing, which are barriers for many vulnerable patients,” Murphy said. “For communities losing local pharmacies, online options may fill part of the gap but cannot replace the full range of services a community pharmacist provides.”
Berenbrok agreed that mail-order pharmacies have “a time and place” because of their convenience, but they require planning ahead, which may not be useful for certain medications like antibiotics.
If your pharmacy is closing soon, Murphy recommended being proactive and asking your pharmacist where your prescriptions are being sent and whether that pharmacy has your insurance and medication history. He also encouraged asking for a 90-day supply or mail-order option for prescriptions if transportation is a concern.
Chains poised to take on former Rite Aid clients, like CVS and Walgreens, say they’re prepared to welcome new customers.
Even if your prescriptions are not moving to a new pharmacy, you may want to make sure your prescription is being filled a day or two before you need it rather than the same day that your current supply runs out, Berenbrok said. Then, if you’re short on time and facing a long line, you won’t miss a dose.
Murphy also suggested contacting elected officials and urging them to take action.
“While pharmacists are committed to stepping up to meet the need, without adequate state and federal policy changes to address the broken business model that caused the pharmacy to close in the first place, we will continue to see pharmacies close and patients having to navigate the loss of their trusted health care professional.”
