Imagine an employee named Sarah, a dedicated professional juggling the demands of her job while managing a chronic condition. Every day, she faces the challenge of adhering to a complex medication regimen. And unfortunately, Sarah recently finds out that her trusted local pharmacy is closing.
How will Sarah find a new pharmacy that has a convenient location, takes her insurance and fills her medication regimen in a timely manner?
Sarah’s struggle is not unique. It reflects a growing concern among employees nationwide.
Millions of insured employees across the nation turn to their local pharmacies to get critical medications and vaccines, as well as health advice when their physicians aren’t accessible. Pharmacies have long been considered a cornerstone of healthcare and are vital healthcare hubs. They fill an essential community need, playing a major role in the healthcare system and in the lives of employees beyond just the dispensing of medications.
Recently, though, pharmacies have announced the closing of hundreds of storefronts nationwide:
- Walgreens announced this summer the closure of a quarter of its stores by 2027.
- Last year, the pharmacy chain Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, closing more than 500 locations.
- In 2021, CVS announced plans to close 900 locations. The company has since closed around 300 stores each year to fulfill the planned commitment.
These pharmacy closures have created not only a concern for employees but are also a nationwide public health issue.
Pharmacies are closing primarily due to changes in reimbursement from Medicare and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), along with the rising cost of drugs. A new CMS rule requires payers to apply direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees when a patient picks up a prescription.
The intention is to create greater price transparency for patients, but it also lowers prescription reimbursements on the pharmacy’s end. In lieu of this news, a survey sent to pharmacy owners found that 32% of respondents said they’re considering shutting down due to the financial constraints of the rule.
Impact of pharmacy closures on healthcare access
When pharmacies close, access to essential healthcare resources becomes limited.
Pharmacists, who are crucial in providing medication safety and efficacy checks, are no longer easily available in local communities. As more patients turn to online or mail-order options, the need for pharmacist oversight remains crucial. With increasing pressure on pharmacies to dispense high volumes of prescriptions, the role of the pharmacist in educating patients on their medications is more important than ever to ensure proper use and avoid complications.
Effective medication management is both a personal and systemic challenge. Pharmacy closures reduce access to vital healthcare services and create a healthcare concern for insured employees. Given the increasing retail pharmacy closures, there is also growing anxiety around pharmacy accessibility.
Employers can play an important role in this complex issue by offering a practical and impactful solution that integrates seamlessly into employees’ lives, ensuring they receive the support they need without added stress.
HR’s role in supporting employees through pharmacy closures
The rise in pharmacy closures creates a significant barrier and a growing anxiety about medication access, especially for employees with chronic conditions.
Employers can address these concerns by offering targeted support that integrates seamlessly into their employees’ lives, ensuring they receive the support they need without added stress. This includes by:
- Partnering with PBMs to ensure adequate pharmacy coverage in the areas where their employees live and work, proactively addressing potential coverage gaps.
- Providing telehealth services that give direct access to pharmacists, providers and care navigation, for example, to help employees understand and locate available medication resources.
The long-term solution: Enhancing pharmacist-patient care
As pharmacies close nationwide, the key solution lies in empowering pharmacists to engage directly with patients beyond simply dispensing medications. Pharmacists play a crucial role in ensuring the safe and effective use of prescriptions, particularly through programs like chronic care management (CCM). With CCM, pharmacists provide personalized consultations, helping patients understand their medications, manage side effects and adhere to treatment plans.
Direct pharmacist consultations ensure that patients receive the necessary guidance and safety checks, regardless of how they obtain their medications. This not only improves medication adherence but also reduces health risks.
By emphasizing pharmacist-patient engagement, employers can offer a solution that supports better health outcomes, even as pharmacy closures continue. This approach strengthens long-term employee wellbeing and productivity.
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