Do you live in a pharmacy desert? Here’s how to access medicines more easily

You’ve probably heard of food deserts — areas with limited access to fresh, affordable produce and other foods. Now, researchers at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center are drawing attention to a similar phenomenon that also affects public health: pharmaceutical deserts.

Their study, published in JAMA Network Openfound that nearly half of U.S. counties (46%) have at least one so-called “pharmacy desert,” where there is no retail pharmacy within a 10-mile radius.

“There has been an increased focus on pharmacies lately, as we’ve heard in the press, with CVS closing nearly 900 stores over the next three years and Rite Aid filing for bankruptcy,” said Timothy Pawlik, MD, PhD, MPH, senior author and surgeon-in-chief at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Health“We were interested in analyzing this concept of pharmaceutical deserts as analogous to food deserts.”

The study found that pharmaceutical deserts, present in both rural and urban settings, are located in areas that are up to 40% more likely to have fewer primary care providers and greater social vulnerabilities, such as poverty and lack of access to transportation. In addition, the burden of chronic diseases is often higher in many of these more socially vulnerable neighborhoods, according to Pawlik.

“So what we’re seeing is really a double- and triple-jeopardy phenomenon,” Pawlik said.

Here’s what you need to know about the impacts of pharmaceutical deserts, as well as how to more easily access medicines if you live in one.

Living in a pharmaceutical desert is more than an inconvenience: it can have serious consequences for individuals and the public.

Not being able to easily access prescription medications could be a problem if you have a medical problem that needs quick treatment, such as an infection, said Alison Lum, PharmD, a former pharmacist and current vice president of pharmacy services at Blue Shield of California. Health.

It could also be risky for people who take medications on an ongoing basis for chronic conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. Without a convenient option to access prescriptions, some people may ration their medications or stop treatment altogether. This behavior “could pose significant health complications, potentially leading to long-term health risks,” said HaVy Ngo-Hamilton, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist and pharmacy editor at BuzzRx. Health.

Additionally, people living in pharmacy deserts may miss out on the benefits of pharmacies, such as valuable interaction with pharmacists and the opportunity to purchase medications at a lower cost. “Patients in pharmacy deserts do not have the option to work with their pharmacists to secure lower drug costs through discounts, which can come from third parties or from the pharmacy group itself,” said Patrick Hawthorne, a veteran Walgreens pharmacist and current senior vice president of MedAdvisor Solutions. Health.

Regarding the effect on society, Jennifer Bourgeois, PharmD, SingleCare’s pharmacy and health expert, said: Health Pharmacy deserts can increase the burden on the health care system. For one, people may go without vaccines offered by pharmacies. They may also turn to emergency rooms or urgent care centers for problems that could have been solved with proper pharmaceutical care, she said.

Fortunately, people living in pharmaceutical deserts can take steps to reduce the burden. If you live in one, here are some tips and strategies to ensure you have access to the medications you need.

Talk to your doctors about your medications

Patients living in areas with a shortage of pharmacies should talk to their health care providers about potential barriers to getting their medications, Ngo-Hamilton said. “They may be able to help find alternative solutions, such as prescribing larger quantities of their medications at a time, which would minimize the need to spend time and money on trips to get prescriptions,” she said.

Make the most of your time with a pharmacist

When you live in a pharmacy desert, it’s a good idea to make the most of the time you have. do Spend time with a pharmacist. For example, Ashleigh Netter, PharmD, former vice president of pharmacy operations at Louisiana Healthcare Connections and founder and CEO of ADN Strategic Innovations, recommends keeping an up-to-date list of your medications and bringing it with you when you talk to a pharmacist.

“I often encouraged my patients to review their medications regularly with me,” she said. Health“It gave me the opportunity to analyze adverse interactions, ensure they were taking the most effective treatments, make recommendations on which basic over-the-counter medications to take and stock at home, and most importantly, coordinate medication pickup with their routine trips, thereby reducing the burden of living in a pharmacy desert.”

Use a mail order prescription service

It’s becoming more common for health insurance companies to partner with mail-order pharmacies like ExpressScripts or CarelonRx, which ship prescriptions directly to patients. “It’s highly recommended to get your medications delivered through mail-order because shipping is free and patients often save money by doing so,” Ngo-Hamilton said. It’s usually easier to go through your insurance company (rather than finding a mail-order pharmacy on your own) to make sure your prescriptions are covered by your plan.

Consider delivery options

Some delivery services traditionally used for food and grocery shopping, such as DoorDash, Uber and Instacart, can also be used for prescription drug delivery in states where it is legal, Ngo-Hamilton explained. Unlike with a mail-order prescription drug service, you will receive your medications at a local pharmacy where you can talk to and build relationships with pharmacists.

Opt for 90-day supplies

Whether you get your prescriptions through the mail or in person at a pharmacy, ask if it’s possible to get an extended supply. “A 90-day supply of your medications can reduce the number of trips to the nearest pharmacy or reliance on delivery services,” Bourgeois said.

Specifically, patients with chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol may have the option to order a 90-day supply of generic medications. “With free shipping, co-pays for a 90-day supply of these medications are typically significantly cheaper,” Ngo-Hamilton explained. If your insurance doesn’t cover these larger supplies, services like prescription discount cards can help keep out-of-pocket costs manageable, she added.

Take advantage of your FSA or HSA

If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), consider how you can use it to reimburse yourself for medically necessary transportation expenses, Ngo-Hamilton advised. “You can also use it to stock up on over-the-counter medications that don’t require a prescription,” she said.

Stock up on over-the-counter medications

Speaking of which, Bourgeois recommends keeping a well-stocked supply of essential over-the-counter medications at home, such as pain relievers, antihistamines and first aid materials, to treat minor health issues without needing immediate access to a pharmacy.

Use a pharmacy inside a grocery store, big box store, or medical center

In recent years, more major grocery chains (such as Kroger, Publix, Fry’s, Meijer and Safeway) and big-box retailers like Target and Walmart have added pharmacy departments to their retail locations. According to Pawlik and Ngo-Hamilton, this can help improve access in communities that lack independent pharmacies.

Additionally, Netter recommends looking for healthcare providers and medical centers that have pharmacies on-site. “This is beneficial because it ensures that patients are seen and receive their medications quickly in one trip, saving time and additional trips,” she said.