Med Shadow – Online Article – November 10, 2025 – Pharmacy Closures Community Impact

Across America, local pharmacies are closing at alarming rates, leaving millions without easy access to essential medications and trusted healthcare advice.

Once seen as a cornerstone of every community, the neighborhood pharmacy is disappearing — and the effects reach far beyond convenience.

Fewer Pharmacies, More Barriers

Pharmacists are among the most trusted professionals in America. They provide quick, accurate, and reliable guidance — often more accessible than any other healthcare provider. In fact, Americans visit a pharmacy twice as often as they see a doctor.

But access to that care is shrinking.

• Rite Aid has closed all its stores.

• Walgreens plans to shutter 1 in 7 locations by 2027.

• CVS has already closed 900 stores since 2022, with another 270 expected to follow.

Behind these numbers are real people — patients, families, and healthcare professionals — struggling to fill prescriptions, manage chronic conditions, and stay healthy.

“We Need More Pharmacists in Every Neighborhood”

When a local pharmacy closes, it disrupts more than just prescriptions. It severs the personal relationships that make healthcare human.

Take Lindsay, a 60-year-old San Francisco resident living with a chronic neurologic condition. Her nearby Rite Aid and Walgreens both shut down. Now, she relies on her husband’s work schedule to pick up prescriptions miles away.

“Mail order isn’t practical when you need something right away,” Lindsay said. “We need more pharmacists in every neighborhood. If you want healthy populations, you have to have accessible pharmacies.”

Her story is not unique. Across both rural and urban areas, pharmacy closures are creating “pharmacy deserts” — communities where residents must travel miles to reach basic care.

When the Nearest Pharmacy Is 30 Miles Away

In Del Norte, Colorado, nurse practitioner Emily Boyd has seen the impact firsthand. Her town of 1,500 lost its only pharmacy two decades ago.

“The closest pharmacy is 15 miles away,” she said. “The one with weekend hours is 30 miles away.”

For patients without cars, that distance can mean skipped doses, unmanaged chronic conditions, or unnecessary emergency room visits.

“The pharmacist used to be like a second doctor,” Boyd recalled. “Someone who knew every patient by name. When that disappeared, so did a layer of local care.”

Why Easy Access to Pharmacies Matters

Pharmacies are more than medication counters — they’re a public health safety net. Studies show that nearly one in five Americans lives in a pharmacy desert, and millions more have only a single pharmacy nearby.

Here’s what’s at stake when a pharmacy closes:

• Medication safety: Pharmacists prevent errors, improve adherence, and monitor for side effects.

• Convenience: No appointments needed — just walk in.

• After-hours access: Many pharmacies stay open when clinics are closed.

• Vaccination access: More than 60% of flu shots and 90% of COVID-19 vaccines are given at pharmacies.

• Chronic care support: Pharmacists help patients manage diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and more.

• Equity in care: Pharmacies in underserved areas reduce health disparities and improve outcomes.

When pharmacies vanish, so does this frontline care.

What’s Causing the Closures?

The reasons are complex — but pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) play a major role. PBMs manage prescription benefits for insurers and employers, yet their practices often squeeze reimbursement rates for local pharmacies.

Large PBM-owned chains and mail-order pharmacies gain the advantage, while independents are left struggling to stay afloat.

Even the American Medical Association has called for greater PBM oversight, citing their influence on drug pricing and patient access.

Other contributing factors include:

• Declining in-store retail sales

• Staffing shortages

• Increased reliance on online ordering

• Rising operational costs

Finding Solutions

Federal and state leaders are exploring strategies to preserve pharmacy access, especially in underserved areas. Promising ideas include:

• Raising reimbursement rates for pharmacies serving Medicare and Medicaid patients

• Offering supplemental dispensing fees to cover costs in low-access areas

• Providing grants or tax incentives for community pharmacies

• Supporting telepharmacy and delivery programs where brick-and-mortar access is limited

However, these solutions can’t replace the value of in-person care. Patients trust pharmacists not just for medication, but for advice, reassurance, and community connection.

What Patients Can Do

If your pharmacy is closing, act quickly:

1. Ask where your prescriptions are being transferred. Contact your current pharmacy before it shuts down.

2. Request a 90-day supply of maintenance medications if your insurance allows.

3. Consider independent pharmacies. They often offer home delivery and personalized service.

4. Explore delivery or transportation options. Some clinics and health departments offer assistance.

5. Keep your providers informed. Make sure your doctor knows where to send future prescriptions.

6. Maintain an updated medication list. Bring it to your new pharmacy to ensure continuity.

Even if the nearest pharmacy isn’t close, knowing your options can prevent dangerous care gaps.

RescueMeds’ Perspective

At RescueMeds, we believe access to care should never depend on your ZIP code. Pharmacy closures don’t just inconvenience patients — they disrupt care, delay recovery, and endanger lives.

We work every day to fill these gaps, especially for injured workers and first responders who rely on consistent, timely medication access.

Every community deserves a pharmacist nearby — someone who knows your name, your history, and your story. That connection saves lives.