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Mass Store Closures at CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid Threaten Community Access to Essential Medications

CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid are closing thousands of stores, leaving many communities without access to essential medicines. Rite Aid, facing bankruptcy, will shut down 400-500 of its 2,200 locations due to competition, debt, and legal issues related to the opioid crisis.

These closures coincide with walkouts by Walgreens and CVS workers protesting low pay and understaffing. Retail pharmacies are struggling with declining profits from prescriptions, increased competition from Amazon and big-box stores, and the pandemic's impact on store visits and prescriptions.

Efforts to pivot into the healthcare industry mean fewer brick-and-mortar stores, further reducing access. This trend disproportionately affects low-income neighborhoods, which heavily rely on these pharmacies. From 2009 to 2015, one in eight pharmacies closed, hitting independent and low-income area pharmacies hardest. Read More.

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Biden vs. Trump: Which Administration Plunged America Deeper into Debt?

A recent study by the Committee for a Responsible Budget compared the national debt contributions of President Biden and former President Trump. The study found that Trump added more to the national debt than Biden, although the figures are close.

• Trump’s administration saw a $6.7 trillion increase over four years, driven by pandemic-related spending.

• Biden’s administration has added $6.3 trillion in less than four years, attributed to increased spending on student loan forgiveness, healthcare expansions, and rising interest expenses.

Despite different contexts, both administrations contributed significantly to the national debt. The study highlights the urgent need for fiscal reform, as the current trajectory is deemed unsustainable by economists and analysts. Read More.