"Nationwide Pharmacy Closures Leave Consumers Struggling for Access"
The decline of Bartell Drugs, a 130-year-old family-owned pharmacy chain in Seattle, highlights a broader crisis in the American pharmacy industry. Factors such as competition from online retailers, reduced reimbursements from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and the opioid crisis have led to widespread closures of both independent and chain pharmacies. This trend is creating "pharmacy deserts," particularly affecting underserved communities, and exacerbating the challenges in the U.S. health care system.
