FURIOUS shoppers have slammed Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS as they all scrap critical services.
The three major retailers have all launched operational changes that will strip many customers of vital healthcare services.
Furious shoppers have slammed major retailers for axing four key healthcare services (stock)[/caption]
CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens have all tweaked their healthcare services, ending some of them completely (stock)[/caption]
It comes after retailers say that profitability is being hit by their health services due to a range of issues including increased costs, staffing shortages and prescription reimbursements below the cost of medications.
As a result they have been tweaking their health services but are now pulling some of them altogether.
“As pharmacies shut down, millions of Americans lose access to essential medications, vaccines, and healthcare services, particularly in rural and under served communities.” Health policy expert Kavelle Christie previously told The U.S. Sun.
Last year, Walmart announced plans to shut down all 51 of its health clinics across five states and discontinue its virtual care services.
The reason given was that it is “not a sustainable business model for us to continue.”
‘DO BETTER’
As a result of mass closures, Walmart customers have made a simple request.
“Walmart do better!,” one wrote on Facebook.
“I didn’t even know there was a Walmart Health in my area….There has been little to no advertising of this meaningful service, and the fact that it’s in undeserved communities is a bonus.
“I guess transparent costs, convenience, and community health care mean little to nothing to Walmart. BRAVO, Walmart, BRAVO.”
“The goal should not be profitability in this situation. The goal should be to expand access to care,” another said.
A third claimed they had their insurance rejected at one of the health clinics which eventually pushed them to a private service.
“When we did use the clinics it was close and convenient to our home. Then one appt they told us they no longer accepted our insurance even though they still showed up as a participating provider on the website,” they said.
“That’s when we went ahead and just got established with a primary care physician.”
LOSE COVERAGE
Meanwhile, CVS Health has been closing and selling hundred of locations while also axing some Coram infusion services.
As costs in its Aetna health benefits business continue to rise, it has taken various actions to save money and will no longer offer insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare.
This move which will take effect next year will leave a million members across 17 states without coverage.
“This decision is consistent with others taken this year to focus the company’s portfolio,” it said.
“The company is best able to serve members through its other health benefit solutions, which offer access to quality care, affordable health benefits and exceptional service.”
Similarly, Walgreens is closing locations and tweaking its healthcare plans by moving away from VillageMD which uses a number of the retailer’s locations for clinics and focusing on virtual health services.
Walgreens is set to close over 1,000 locations over the next three years and move some healthcare services online (stock)[/caption]
The retailer has shuttered over 1,000 sites over the last six years and is set to close around 1,300 more in the next three.
“CVSs and Walgreens are closing all around me, and we live in an affluent side of town. They’re in big trouble,” one frustrated consumers wrote on X.
“Please reconsider the proposed closure of store #4729 at 6370 Powers Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30339,” another said.
“WE NEED THIS STORE TO STAY OPEN!!”
“The closure of hundreds of CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid stores signals a major shift in retail pharmacy,” another said, addressing the wider wider struggles and impact of the changes.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow for communities losing these essential services, highlighting the broader impact of economic pressures and the rise of online shopping.”
‘PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS’
Rite Aid which declared bankruptcy for a second time in two years have officially shuttered 1,000 locations.
Meanwhile the California State Rural Health Association warned that “pharmacy closures are limiting access to essential medications across America, widening health disparities.”
“Over 26,000 pharmacies have closed since 2011, impacting rural communities the most,” it added.
Experts have long been warning of healthcare deserts after major corporations shutter services to save money, leaving some communities with very little if any healthcare services.
Nearly five per cent of the US population live in such areas, according to health policy expert Christie who called it a “public health crisis”.
“Right now, over 15.8 million people live in pharmacy deserts, where access to medications and pharmacist consultations is extremely limited,” she said.
“The impact is devastating, especially for people managing chronic conditions, pregnant individuals, and those relying on regular prescriptions for their health.”
“When pharmacies disappear, people don’t just lose a place to fill prescriptions. They lose access to lifesaving medications, vaccinations, and essential healthcare services,” she continued.
“We see higher hospitalization rates for preventable conditions, worse maternal health outcomes, and a rise in emergency room visits in areas where pharmacy access is limited.”
Experts have long warned of the healthcare deserts being caused by mass closures (Stock)[/caption]
