Why social pharmacies are closing – and what if it is if the neighborhood location windows

Neighborly pharmacies are Quickly closed.

Recently, Walgreens, one of the largest pharmacy networks in the country, has announced plans Close 1,200 stores over the next three years. This is part of a larger trend he has almost seen 7,000 pharmacy locations closed from 2019with more expected in the coming years.

Many social pharmacies try to remain open because Limited possibilities for account insurers for services apart from issuing medicines.

How trained Pharmacists who support and look after patients in community environments, we witnessed this first -hand inheritance. The loss of local pharmacies threatens individual and communities access to drugs, pharmacism knowledge and necessary public health resources.

The changing role of the pharmacy

Social pharmacies-independent, corporate chain and other retail pharmacies in the neighborhood-have changed a lot over the past decades. What once was uncomplicated points to receive drugs evolved into hubs for health and well -being. In addition to prescription prescriptions, pharmacists today provide vaccinations, testing and treatment of infectious diseases, access to hormonal birth control and other clinical services that are entitled to provide federal AND state rights.

Given their importance, why does so many social pharmacies close?

There are many reasons, but the most essential thing is to reduce the reimbursement of prescription drugs. Most social pharmacies operate as part of a business model focused on dosing of drugs that are based on returns of insurers and cash payments from patients. Petite revenues come from the sale of over -the -counter products and other products.

However, managers for pharmacy benefits – companies that manage prescription benefits for insurers and employers – Aggressively reduced the rates of reimbursement to reduce drug costs in recent years. As a result, pharmacists often have to spend prescription drugs on very low margins, and even with a loss. In some cases, pharmacists are forced to transfer the prescription to other pharmacies that want to absorb the financial hit. Other times, pharmacists choose do not store these drugs at all.

And this is not only operations for mom and pop feeling pinching. Over the past four years, the three largest pharmaceutical chains have announced plans for closing hundreds of stores throughout the country. CVS started the trend in 2021 By announcing plans to close 900 pharmacy locations. At the end of 2023, Rite Aid said that thousands of his stores would be threatened with closing due to bankruptcy. And at the end of 2024, Walgreens He announced his plans Close 1,200 stores over the next three years.

Even worse, pharmacists, like many other healthcare workers, They were burnout Due to high stress and lasting effects of Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, Registration at the Pharmacy School has fallendeteriorating a shortage of workforce, just like upcoming deficiency of primary care doctors Krosna.

Why the availability of the pharmacy matters

. Increasing the closure of social pharmacies He has far -reaching consequences for millions of Americans. This is because neighborly pharmacies are one of the most available locations for healthcare in the country, with About 90% of Americans living 5 miles from one.

However, research shows that “Pharmacy deserts“They are more common in marginalized communities, in which people need the most available healthcare. For example, people living in pharmacy deserts also more likely to be disabled This makes it tough or impossible. Many of these areas are also classified as Areas medically mediated or areas of deficiency of healthcare professionals. As the pharmacy closes, the differences in America may be even worse.

So if your neighborly pharmacy closes, what should you do?

While convenience and location matter, you can consider other factors that will assist you meet your healthcare needs. For example, in some pharmacies they have employees who speak your native language, independent owners of pharmaceutical companies can be dynamic in your community, and many locations offer over -the -counter products, such as hormonal contraception, overdose of noksone and hearing aids.

You can also consider locations-especially pharmacies belonging to the corporation-who also offer urgent care or primary care services. In addition, Most pharmacies offer vaccinationsAnd some offer test services and treatment of infectious diseases, diabetes education and assist in quitting smoking.

What to ask if your pharmacy is closing

If your preferred pharmacy closes and you need to find another, remember about the following questions:

• • What will happen to your senior prescriptions? When the pharmacy closes, another pharmacy can buy prescriptions. Ask your pharmacist if the prescriptions will be automatically transferred to a nearby pharmacy, and when it happens.

• • What is the personnel situation in other pharmacies? This is an essential factor in choosing a novel pharmacy. What are the waiting times? Can the team accommodate special situations such as emergency cartridges or early cartridges before the holidays? Is the pharmacist related to the primary care physician and other recipes?

• • Which pharmacies accept your insurance? A uncomplicated call to the insurer can assist understand where the prescriptions are covered with the lowest costs. And if you take a medicine that is not covered by insurance or if you are uninsured, you should ask if the pharmacy can assist you by offering coupons and discounts for the manufacturer or discount.

• • What are your accessibility needs? Pharmacies often offer services so that your care is more accessible and convenient. They can include medical packaging services, travel windows and home delivery. And if you are considering going to a mail order, you should ask if you have a pharmacist to answer questions by phone or during visits to the teeth.

Remember that it is best to fill all prescriptions in the same pharmacy or location chain so that the pharmacist can perform a safety control in the full list of drugs. Drug interactions It can be dangerous.

Pharmacies have been the basics of districts for over a century. Unfortunately, current trends in the closure of the pharmacy pose real threats to public health. We hope that legislators deal with basic system problems so that more Americans do not lose access to medicines, health services and pharmacists.