(DDM) – Communities across the U.S. state of Pennsylvania are facing a growing healthcare access crisis as hundreds of local pharmacies continue to shut down, leaving many residents without nearby access to medications, vaccinations, and pharmaceutical advice.
Health policy analysts warn that the closures are rapidly creating what experts call “pharmacy deserts,” areas where residents no longer have reasonable access to a community pharmacy. Since 2020, more than 1,000 pharmacies have reportedly closed across the state, significantly reducing access to essential healthcare services.
A coalition known as Pennsylvanians for Pharmacy Access has documented the expanding problem through an interactive map showing closure locations and communities at risk. The group estimates that at least 213 pharmacies currently operating in vulnerable areas could shut down in the near future, potentially worsening the crisis.
What is a pharmacy desert?
CNN-style explainer: A pharmacy desert is a geographic area where residents must travel long distances to access a pharmacy. In such areas, patients often struggle to fill prescriptions, receive vaccinations, or consult pharmacists about medication safety.
Healthcare experts say these closures have serious consequences. Patients may delay treatment, skip medication doses, or fail to receive timely medical advice, increasing the risk of complications for chronic illnesses.
For elderly patients, rural residents, and those without reliable transportation, the disappearance of nearby pharmacies can become a major barrier to basic healthcare.
Why pharmacies are closing
Industry experts point to the growing influence of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) as a major factor behind the closures.
CNN-style explainer: PBMs are companies that act as intermediaries between health insurers, drug manufacturers, and pharmacies. They manage prescription drug benefits and determine how much pharmacies are reimbursed for medications.
Critics say some PBM practices, including “spread pricing,” allow these companies to charge health plans more for medications while reimbursing pharmacies at lower rates. In some cases, pharmacies are paid less than the cost of acquiring the drugs themselves.
Pharmacists also report being charged retroactive fees after prescriptions are filled, further eroding profit margins and making it difficult for small community pharmacies to remain financially viable.
The situation becomes more complicated when PBMs direct patients to pharmacies owned by the same companies managing the benefits, reducing customer traffic for independent pharmacies.
Rising healthcare costs and policy debates
Despite steady enrollment in Medicaid, prescription drug spending in Pennsylvania has surged dramatically, rising from approximately $1.4 billion in 2013 to about $4.6 billion in 2022.
Policy analysts say the growing gap between rising spending and declining pharmacy numbers has raised concerns about how funds are distributed within the healthcare system.
Lawmakers are now considering reforms that could reshape the way prescription drug benefits are managed.
One proposal, Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1186, sponsored by state senators Lisa Boscola and Judy Ward, seeks to introduce a single pharmacy benefit administrator model for Medicaid in the state.
Supporters argue that the bill could bring greater transparency and accountability to the system while ensuring pharmacies receive fair reimbursement.
What experts say must happen next
Healthcare advocates are urging state leaders and the administration of Josh Shapiro to act quickly before more pharmacies disappear.
Proposed solutions include banning spread pricing practices, increasing Medicaid dispensing fees to federal standards, compensating pharmacists for clinical services such as immunizations, and preventing benefit managers from steering patients to pharmacies they own.
CNN-style explainer: Pharmacists today do far more than dispense medication. They often provide front-line healthcare services, including vaccinations, medication counseling, chronic disease monitoring, and coordination with physicians.
Without accessible pharmacies, experts warn that the burden on hospitals and primary care providers could increase significantly.
For many communities across Pennsylvania, the stakes are high.
If closures continue at the current pace, some towns could soon lose their last remaining pharmacy, leaving thousands of residents without easy access to life-saving medications and professional pharmaceutical care.
