“They tend to close in these neighborhoods regardless of whether or not there is another pharmacy nearby,” Qato said. Closings can create so-called “pharmacy deserts,” or neighborhoods without easy access to a drugstore. “It’ll kind of worsen the problem of pharmacy deserts and disparities in pharmacy access,” Qato said. She noted that patients who lose drugstore access are less likely to stay on their regular prescriptions, and that can affect their health. Jonas said drugstores do want to help with pharmacy access, but the economics still need to work for these companies.

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Persons: Dima Qato, ” Qato, Jeff Jonas, Jonas, drugstores, ”, Ted Shaffrey Organizations: East, Street, University of Southern, Gabelli Funds, Rite Aid, Associated Press, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: West, University of Southern California, Philadelphia, Virginia