Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) A week after Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, closing over 170 pharmacies across New York State, a Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Buffalo believes the effects on patient care will be severe and widespread.
Chris Daly with the UB School of Pharmacy is most concerned about the 13 Rite Aid Pharmacies that will be closing in the city of Buffalo, creating a pharmacy desert.
"We have access to New York State data," said Daly. "We wanted to focus specifically on high blood pressure and diabetes. Within the city of Buffalo, where people need accessible care, you have 1 out of 3, or 1 out of 4 individuals with high blood pressure. And about 10% of individuals have diabetes. Cost effective medication can manage this. But pharmacies are not just about medications, but vaccinations and social needs. They are able to reach out to patients and have conversations. This is really going to be a loss that is not only felt in the next couple of months when patients are scrambling to find a new pharmacy, but beyond."
Will existing pharmacies absorb all of the Rite Aid customers?
"Think of the volume of what's about to happen just in the city of Buffalo.
If you average a couple hundred prescriptions a day, you're really into the thousands per week that you need to offset. In an area where you have already had pharmacies pull out, that's a lot of consider. In the short term, we have no choice but to absorb. Pharmacies are going to be looking to reach out to provider's offices to reestablish patients, and there's going to be longer wait times. But knowing the high quality of pharmacies in the area, they will look to do the best that they can. But there will be some disruptions. That's a large concern.
Some pharmacy needs will shift to mail order. Certain insurance plans mandate mail order.
But Daly said this is going to have to be re-assessed on an ongoing basis because the most socially vulnerable patients are at risk of going off medication.