Reading Eagle: Action needed to save community pharmacists

By Jennifer Riley, Patients Come First Pennsylvania’s Executive Director

The closure of community pharmacies underscores a critical issue that resonates deeply in Pennsylvania. In the past year alone, over 140 pharmacies have closed in our state. These include independent and chain pharmacies, such as the recent shutdowns of hundreds of Rite Aid locations in Pennsylvania, including Berks County.

A primary factor is the role of pharmacy benefit managers. These intermediaries, responsible for managing prescription drug benefits on behalf of health insurers, have been criticized for practices that reduce reimbursement rates to pharmacies. This financial strain has forced many community pharmacies to operate at a loss, ultimately leading to their closure.

The impact of these closures extends beyond the loss of a local business; it creates “pharmacy deserts,” particularly in underserved and rural areas. More than half a million rural Pennsylvanians live in a pharmacy desert.

These communities face increased challenges in accessing medications, receiving vaccinations and obtaining professional medical advice. For many, especially the elderly and those with limited mobility, traveling greater distances to the nearest pharmacy is not a viable option.

Read the full LTE in the Reading Eagle here.