The race to deliver prescription medications directly to consumers’ homes is intensifying.

This week, Walmart revealed plans to launch same-day pharmacy delivery in six states, with a goal to offer the service in 49 states by the end of January.

The retail giant currently provides this service in Arkansas, Missouri, New York, Nevada, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Customers can have both new prescriptions and medication refills delivered, and they also have the option to combine these orders with other products available at Walmart.

Walmart pharmacy can serve 85% of U.S. households

According to Walmart officials, a recent survey indicated that over half (55%) of their customers preferred having their prescriptions delivered alongside groceries and other items in a single order. With around 4,600 stores nationwide, this service could reach over 85% of American households.

“Our vast presence across the country and our extensive pharmacy experience enable us to make a significant difference in the communities we support,” commented Kevin Host, senior vice president of pharmacy at Walmart U.S., in a press release. “We realize that healthcare solutions vary greatly by locality. Each community has specific requirements. This new delivery option allows us to better serve customers while freeing up our pharmacies to focus on essential health services.”

Details of Walmart’s same-day pharmacy delivery

Walmart+ members will enjoy free delivery for pharmacy items, while those who are not members will incur a $9.95 delivery fee. Customers can opt for scheduled same-day drop-offs within specific time frames, on-demand deliveries within three hours, or express deliveries that arrive in as little as 30 minutes, as confirmed by a Walmart representative.

Amazon pharmacy also increasing its reach

This announcement from Walmart coincides with Amazon’s news about expanding its same-day delivery for prescriptions.

Amazon plans to enhance its national pharmacy network in the coming year, aiming to provide same-day medication delivery to nearly half of U.S. residents.

Other national retailers like Walgreens and CVS are also in the same space, providing same-day prescription services within specific distances of their locations.

Understanding pharmacy deserts

The expansion of prescription delivery services occurs as several retail pharmacy chains are closing their doors. Both large chains and small businesses are struggling under the current pharmacy benefit manager model used by insurers, which dictates where customers can fill prescriptions and how pharmacies are compensated.

Recently, Walgreens announced it would close 1,200 underperforming stores and pharmacies as part of its restructuring efforts. Similarly, Rite Aid has also been shutting down a number of its locations. CVS has closed some of its pharmacies inside Target stores and recently announced layoffs affecting 3,000 positions, primarily in corporate roles.

These closures have resulted in an increase in areas recognized as pharmacy deserts—communities lacking a pharmacy within a 10-mile radius. Dr. Timothy Pawlik, chair of surgery at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, defines these areas as places where residents cannot easily access pharmacies.

Delivery services can assist some customers, but not everyone

While mail-order and pharmacy delivery services provide benefits for certain consumers, they do not cater to everyone, noted Pawlik. Many individuals rely on mail-order services that take several days for delivery, which does not meet the immediate needs for urgent prescriptions.

Services providing same-day delivery “may only benefit a segment of the population, rather than all consumers,” Pawlik indicated. His research on pharmacy deserts was published in an article in August in the American Medical Association journal, JAMA.

The data from the article, which covered information up to 2020, revealed that nearly 46% of U.S. counties faced at least one pharmacy desert. Although traditionally defined as areas without pharmacies within 10 miles, Pawlik also pointed out that urban environments may also qualify as pharmacy deserts if accessing the nearest pharmacy requires a lengthy walk, especially for those without reliable transportation.

Moreover, regions that lack pharmacies often experience a general lack of accessible healthcare services, said Pawlik.

In an interview with YSL News, Pawlik expressed that the actual percentage of pharmacy deserts might be greater than what was reported in the JAMA study, as the data used was from 2020 and many additional retail pharmacies have since closed.

In areas with pharmacy closures, consumers also lose access to valuable services provided by pharmacists, including medication guidance, vaccination access, and more.

Pawlik mentioned that not all consumers feel at ease with digital pharmacy orders.

Challenges with Digital Pharmacy Services

Pawlik pointed out that online pharmacy orders for same-day delivery may not cater to individuals lacking credit or debit cards, or digital currency.

Moreover, some people, particularly older adults, might not be tech-savvy or may not have access to the necessary technology, he explained.

He illustrated this with an example involving his father, who requires Pawlik’s brother to assist him in logging in for telehealth appointments.

“If my dad had to manage it himself, he wouldn’t be able to order his prescriptions independently,” Pawlik shared. “However, he knows how to go to a pharmacy because that’s something he has always done.”

Additionally, using an online pharmacy delivery service relies on the existence of a nearby store that provides delivery services, he added.

For example, Walmart and CVS representatives informed YSL News that their same-day pharmacy delivery services usually service areas within 10 miles of a store. Walgreens extends this range to 15 miles, while CVS has options for one to two-day delivery within a 50-mile radius.