Why local pharmacies matter
Pharmacies—whether independent or retail chains—are foundational to healthcare access in communities everywhere. Their impact stretches beyond dispensing medicine: pharmacies offer trusted health guidance, facilitate preventive care, and serve as the first resource for minorities, veterans, and rural residents facing health challenges.
Why Pharmacy Closures Are a Growing Threat
Nearly one in three retail pharmacies in the United States closed between 2010 and 2021—a net loss approaching 30%. The result is a mounting crisis, with entire neighborhoods and small towns losing affordable and nearby options for prescription drugs, vaccines, and essential health advice.
Closures accelerated in recent years: from 2018 to 2021, more pharmacies shut down than opened, with the steepest declines seen in minority and rural areas.
Just since late December 2024, more than 300 additional pharmacies closed, leaving vulnerable Americans stranded in "pharmacy deserts" without access to lifesaving medications.
Communities Hit Hardest
Minority Neighborhoods:
Pharmacies in Black and Latinx communities are up to 37.5% and 35.6% respectively more likely to close than those in predominantly White areas.
Such neighborhoods face pharmacy deserts—areas where access to prescription drugs and healthcare services is severely limited. Patients are more likely to experience medication nonadherence and suffer negative health outcomes, including higher rates of preventable hospitalization.
Rural America:
Over 29% of pharmacies in rural areas have shut their doors in the last decade, with closures leading to longer travel times and increased costs for basic healthcare.
Rural residents report delaying care and relying more on emergency services when their local pharmacy closes—not just for prescriptions but for all frontline healthcare, from immunizations to chronic disease management.
Veterans:
Veterans depend on a stable pharmacy network—including those operated by PBMs—for benefits through the VA and TRICARE programs. Closures threaten their unique medication needs and disrupt trusted relationships with their pharmacists.
The Role—and Risk—of Retail and PBM-Owned Pharmacies
Retail and chain pharmacies, including those affiliated with PBMs, account for a significant portion of routine prescriptions and preventive care. When these close:
Many patients struggle to fill prescriptions affordably. PBM-operated pharmacies often provide access to negotiated discounts and streamline care for those with public insurance.
Exclusion from Medicare Part D networks—a strategy increasingly used by PBMs—makes retail pharmacies up to 4.5 times more likely to close, especially in low-income, minority, and rural communities. This trend stems from shifting network designs and a wave of mergers in the PBM and retail pharmacy sectors.
Pharmacies: More Than a Place to Fill Prescriptions
Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals. They:
Prevent serious drug interactions.
Give critical advice on chronic conditions.
Offer essential immunizations and screenings, particularly where other healthcare facilities are scarce.
When any pharmacy closes—regardless of its ownership—entire communities lose more than convenience; they lose a key part of their healthcare safety net.
Share your story. Join the Save My Pharmacy coalition to advocate for fair policies and protect pharmacy access—for minorities, veterans, rural communities, and anyone who depends on this lifeline.
About Save My Pharmacy
Save My Pharmacy (SMP) is a national coalition of community advocates united to protect access to affordable prescription drugs and essential pharmacy services. We advocate for policies that preserve a robust network of pharmacies—independent, retail, and PBM-operated—serving minority communities, rural areas, and veterans. In the face of Big Pharma–backed legislation that threatens to shut down pharmacies and raise drug costs, SMP works to ensure every American has nearby, affordable, and reliable access to the medications and care they need.
