When Pharmacies Close, Heart Medication Adherence Falls
Those taking heart meds are negatively affected by pharmacy closings.
News-Medical.net shared a new study by the University of Illinois at Chicago that shows that when pharmacies close, older adults taking various heart medications experience a significant and immediate drop in medication adherence. In fact, among statin-users whose pharmacy closed, almost twice as many did not refill their medication within 12 months compared to those whose pharmacy did not close.
What does that mean? Basically, when pharmacies close, people ages 50 and over seem to experience a significant decrease in being able to take their medications as prescribed. It makes sense: one reason people don’t take their medications as prescribed is because they cannot access them; if a local pharmacy closes, a community loses an access point.
What’s the outlook? The study reports: “Pharmacy closures are expected to further increase due to the expanding role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the pharmacy market because of mergers and acquisitions, and the growth of preferred pharmacy networks, which often exclude independent stores.”
At Blink, we want to do everything we can to help people get the medications they need. That’s why we offer more than one way to get the medications you purchase online through Blink. At checkout, you can choose an in-network pharmacy near you or if there isn’t an in-network option nearby, opt for free home delivery.
This new study shines a light on one of the reasons medication adherence can drop. We’re committed to helping those affected get medications they can afford in the most convenient way for them.
Blink Health is not insurance. The discount prescription drug provider is Blink Health Administration, LLC, 233 Spring Street, 8th Floor East, New York, NY 10013, (844) 366–2211, www.blinkhealth.com
