Drugstore closures are leaving millions without easy access to pharmacy
Drugstore closures are leaving millions of Americans without easy access to a pharmacy, a trend that is disproportionately affecting rural and underserved communities.
According to a 2023 report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than 12% of Americans live in areas that are considered to be "pharmacy deserts," meaning they have to travel at least 10 miles to reach a pharmacy. This number is projected to increase to 20% by 2030.
The closure of drugstores is due to a number of factors, including declining reimbursements from insurance companies, competition from online retailers, and the rising cost of prescription drugs.
Impact of drugstore closures
The closure of drugstores can have a number of negative consequences for consumers, including:
- Reduced access to prescription drugs: When people have to travel long distances to reach a pharmacy, they are more likely to delay or skip filling their prescriptions altogether. This can lead to serious health problems.
- Increased costs: Consumers who live in pharmacy deserts often have to pay more for prescription drugs. This is because they may have to travel to a pharmacy that is out of their network, or they may have to pay for delivery fees.
- Reduced access to other healthcare services: Many drugstores offer other healthcare services, such as vaccinations, immunizations, and health screenings. When drugstores close, people living in pharmacy deserts may lose access to these important services.
Disproportionate impact on rural and underserved communities
Drugstore closures are disproportionately affecting rural and underserved communities. This is because these communities are more likely to be located in pharmacy deserts.
Rural communities are more likely to be pharmacy deserts because they have smaller populations and fewer drugstores to begin with. Additionally, rural communities are more likely to be low-income, which means that people living in these communities are less likely to be able to afford to travel long distances to reach a pharmacy.
Underserved communities are also more likely to be pharmacy deserts because they are more likely to be located in urban areas with high poverty rates. Additionally, underserved communities are more likely to have large populations of immigrants and refugees, who may face language barriers and other challenges accessing healthcare services.
What can be done?
There are a number of things that can be done to address the problem of drugstore closures, including:
- Increase reimbursement rates from insurance companies: One way to make drugstores more profitable is to increase reimbursement rates from insurance companies. This would make it more sustainable for drugstores to operate in pharmacy deserts.
- Provide financial incentives for drugstores to operate in pharmacy deserts: The government could provide financial incentives for drugstores to operate in pharmacy deserts. This could include tax breaks, loans, or grants.
- Expand access to telehealth services: Telehealth services can allow people living in pharmacy deserts to access prescription drugs and other healthcare services without having to travel long distances.
- Promote community-based pharmacies: Community-based pharmacies are often owned and operated by local residents. They are more likely to stay open in pharmacy deserts because they are more invested in the community.
Conclusion
Drugstore closures are a serious problem that is affecting millions of Americans. The closure of drugstores can have a number of negative consequences for consumers, including reduced access to prescription drugs, increased costs, and reduced access to other healthcare services.
Drugstore closures are disproportionately affecting rural and underserved communities. These communities are more likely to be located in pharmacy deserts, and they are less likely to be able to afford to travel long distances to reach a pharmacy.
There are a number of things that can be done to address the problem of drugstore closures, including increasing reimbursement rates from insurance companies, providing financial incentives for drugstores to operate in pharmacy deserts, expanding access to telehealth services, and promoting community-based pharmacies.
Additional thoughts
The closure of drugstores is a complex problem with no easy solutions. However, it is important to raise awareness of the issue and to advocate for policies that will help to ensure that all Americans have access to the pharmacy services they need.