Senator Katie Britt Advocates for Rural Pharmacy Solutions

U.S. Senator Katie Britt is actively seeking solutions for the challenges facing rural communities nationwide.

During a recent hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee, she discussed the ongoing closure of rural pharmacies, with a particular focus on Alabama.

Britt started her comments by highlighting the significant number of pharmacy closures over the last 15 years.

“Since 2010, over 6,500 independent pharmacies have shut down,” Britt (R-Montgomery) noted.

“In Alabama alone, between 2015 and 2018, we saw more than 225 pharmacies close—roughly one per month. In many rural areas of Alabama, these local pharmacies are essentially the only healthcare options available within a 20 to 30-mile radius.”

She referred to how pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) contribute to this issue, stating that such closures are “absolutely and completely unacceptable.”

“When PBMs use retroactive clawbacks, DIR fees, and sub-cost reimbursement rates, they not only harm revenue, but they’re also pushing whole communities into what we call pharmacy deserts,” she said.

Britt highlighted an urgent concern regarding the decline in rural pharmacies.

“There are elements of community relationships in rural areas that we just can’t overlook,” she remarked. “For people striving for the American Dream, access to healthcare and pharmacies is crucial. No one is likely to establish a business and create quality jobs in a place that lacks pharmacy services.”

“In Alabama, the situation is even more pressing, as 50 or 55 of our 67 counties are rural.”