Summary
Independent drugstores across the U.S. are rapidly closing, with at least 7,000 pharmacies shuttering since 2019, half of them independents.
In rural areas like Inman, South Carolina, closures create “pharmacy deserts,” leaving communities without accessible healthcare services.
Profits are squeezed by low reimbursement rates, especially for expensive medications, with margins falling to just 3-5%.
Even large chains like Walgreens are struggling, reporting significant losses. Experts warn the crisis undermines local healthcare access.
Many large HMOs basically require mail order prescriptions now. I have heard many complaints because of how unpredictable USPS can be and strict limits on dispensing, ie last pill of month and mail is late.