In September, when the only pharmacy in Antwerp, a small town in Northwest Ohio with roughly 1,600 residents, shut its doors, it had a significant impact on Candace Pidgeon.

Pidgeon lost her job at the independent Antwerp Pharmacy, which closed due to an inability to compete with larger chain pharmacies. Now, she has to travel 22 miles to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to reach the closest CVS for her monthly prescriptions.

This situation echoes a growing trend across the U.S., where both local and national pharmacy chains are shutting down locations, leaving many consumers in “pharmacy deserts.”

On Friday, CVS announced that it has replaced its CEO, Karen Lynch, with experienced executive David Joyner and has withdrawn its profit projections for 2024 facing increasing pressure from investors. This follows reports earlier in the week of nearly 3,000 layoffs, primarily affecting corporate roles.

Recently, Walgreens also announced plans to close 1,200 underperforming stores and pharmacies in an effort to recover financially. Another major pharmacy chain, Rite Aid, has been similarly shutting down its stores.

The Rise of Pharmacy Deserts

A pharmacy desert is characterized as an area that lacks a pharmacy within 10 miles.

According to a report published in August in the American Medical Association journal JAMA, nearly half of the counties in the U.S.—about 46%—are home to at least one pharmacy desert. This study utilized data from 2000 and does not consider the more recent closures made by retail pharmacies.

“As pharmacies close down, a growing number of people lose easy access to their medications, which could have serious consequences for specific communities,” the report states. “Individuals already vulnerable to being overlooked by the healthcare system are more likely to suffer from these closures.”

Pidgeon witnessed this reality firsthand. Many of her former pharmacy’s patrons were elderly and often relied on walking to pick up their medications. Now, she is concerned about how they will obtain the treatments they need.

She now drives half an hour to pick up her medications each month. There is another local pharmacy about 10 miles from her home that she wishes to frequent, but her insurance does not cover her prescriptions there. She hasn’t yet explored the idea of using mail-order services for her medications.

“I wished for a small community pharmacy instead of a big corporate chain; however, due to insurance, I’ve had to go to CVS for my meds,” Pidgeon explained to YSL News. She has since left the pharmacy field and is now working with adults with developmental disabilities.

Impact on Rural and Low-Income Communities

The closure of pharmacies often disproportionately impacts rural populations and low-income urban residents, particularly those from communities of color, according to Dima Mazen Qato, an associate professor of clinical pharmacy and spatial sciences at the University of Southern California.

The inability to access medications or immunizations can lead to people delaying or forgoing essential care. Qato’s research focuses on the issues of pharmacy access and the challenges posed by pharmacy deserts.

“Our research shows that many patients in pharmacy deserts either delay obtaining their prescriptions or stop taking them altogether, which inevitably affects their treatment adherence and overall health,” she noted.

Moreover, when pharmacies close, customers also miss out on basic hygiene products, not just medications, Qato added.

Reasons Behind Pharmacy Closures

Insufficient reimbursement rates are a primary reason pharmacies are forced to shut down, according to Qato. This is especially a challenge for independent pharmacies that serve a high number of Medicaid and Medicare patients, who typically receive lower reimbursement rates. Pharmacy benefit managers dictate which pharmacies patients can utilize for their prescriptions and how much insurance plans will pay for them, contributing to this issue.

What Should Consumers Do If Their Pharmacy Closes?

Qato recommends that consumers take a proactive approach when filling their prescriptions. They should inquire with their pharmacist about the nearest pharmacy’s location if their current one is closing, and keep track of refill timings to avoid last-minute problems.

Could Amazon Be the Solution?

Amazon claims that its pharmacy service, which delivers medications directly to customers’ homes, addresses some of the access issues prevalent in the pharmaceutical industry.

Recently, Amazon Pharmacy announced that by the end of next year, it aims to provide same-day prescription deliveries to nearly half of the U.S.

“We’ve been delivering medications rapidly throughout the United States, with over 90% shipped within two days. However, when you’re feeling unwell or have a sick child at home, getting the medication quickly is crucial,” stated John Love, vice president of Amazon Pharmacy, in an earlier conversation with YSL News.

While Amazon’s approach may be beneficial for some customers due to its convenience, it cannot replace the invaluable services offered by local community pharmacies, such as immunizations, noted Qato.