Melton calls for study of pharmacy deserts
CVS has closed 5 NWI stores recently as part of plan to close 900 locations nationwide
As pharmacy chains close stores to reshape business plans, a state lawmaker from Gary vowed to author a bill that creates a task force to study pharmacy deserts in Indiana.
If the bill becomes law next year, state Sen. Eddie Melton said the findings and recommendations of the experts on the task force would be forwarded to the General Assembly within a year.
Melton offered a similar bill in the past legislative session, but it didn’t move forward in the Republican-dominated legislature. He pointed to a study that found 60% of Indiana neighborhoods qualify as pharmacy desserts.
“Our state is failing our most vulnerable citizens. Those without access to a car or public transportation, who have disabilities and illnesses, and who do not have the financial or social support to address their lack of access are the ones that suffer the most in pharmacy deserts.”
Recently, CVS Health closed five pharmacies in Northwest Indiana and is shifting its business strategy based on changes in population, consumer buying patterns and future health needs.
Last year, CVS announced plans to close 900 stores nationwide over three years to focus on new store formats dedicated to primary care services in its walk-in clinics and it plans to offer enhanced “HealthHUB” locations with products and services for everyday health and wellness needs.
A company spokesman said about 100 stores of the projected 300 has closed this year so far.
Among the recent local closings are CVS stores at 3400 N. Calumet Ave. in Valparaiso; 1301 119th St. in Whiting; 1195 Ridge Road in Griffith, 2106 Broadway in East Chicago and 710 Franklin St., Michigan City.
In 2017, Walgreens closed 75 stores including a pharmacy in Gary. Since 2015, the drugstore chain focused on closing about 200 stores nationwide to save about $1 billion in costs.
Meanwhile in 2019, CVS closed a store in the Village Shopping Center. Both Walgreens and CVS have one store each in Gary.
Walgreens has a store at 2500 Grant St. and CVS has a store at 1350 Broadway.
“The pharmacy desert issue will only be exacerbated, especially in Northwest Indiana, where CVS has already closed 12 of its locations since 2017 and a series of Walgreen pharmacy closures has left only four in the entire region,” Melton said.
A CVS spokesman said there are 30 CVS Pharmacy locations across Northwest Indiana, including six 24-hour pharmacies and five HealthHub sites that offer expanded health and wellness services.
CVS said maintaining access to pharmacy services, especially in vulnerable communities, is an important factor it weighs when making store closure decisions.
A CVS statement said other factors include local market dynamics, population shifts, a community’s store density and ensuring there are other geographic access points to meet community needs.