AROUND TWO-THIRDS OF CVS PHARMACIES WILL CUT OR ADJUST HOURS FROM MARCH. >> I DON’T THINK IT’S SAFE TO DO THIS, IT’S NECESSARY. >> PHARMACISTS SAY THEY ARE EXTREMELY BUSY CUSTOMER AFTER CUSTOMER NOW EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT. >> I THINK THIS IS RIDICULOUS, PEOPLE NEED MEDICINE, IT’S BAD ENOUGH YOU CAN’T GET GOOD HEALTH CARE ALREADY NOW, YOU CAN’T GET MEDICINE. >> WALMART ALSO CHANGES BY A FEW HOURS TELL NEWS CENTER5 FEEDBACK FROM PHARMACY ASSOCIATES AND CUSTOMER LEADED TO THE DECISION. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MASS INDEPENDENT PHARMACISTS ASSOC SAYS PHARMACISTS ARE MANY BUT PREFER NOT TO WORK FOR CHAIN RETAILERS >> THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF NOT STAFFING ENOUGH OR RUNNING A LEAN ORGANIZATION WHERE PHARMACISTS ARE STRESSED AND THIS IS COMPLICATED BY RECENT DECREASES IN PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS MANAGER REIMBURSEMENTS. CVS IN A STATEMENT SAYS BY ADJUSTING HOURS AT CERTAIN STORES THIS SPRING, WE ARE ENSURE OUR PHARMACY TEAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO SERVE PATIENTS WHEN THEY ARE MOST NEEDED. IF A PHARMACY IS CLOSED, A PATIENT CAN VISIT ANY OPEN CVS PHARMACY LOCATION FOR HELP WITH IMMEDIATE PRESCRIPTION NEEDS. THE WALGREENS ON RIVER ST IN HYDEPARK HAS RECENTLY CLOSED. CVS AND WALMART CUSTOMERS CONCERN ABOUT ACCESS. >> THEY HAD ONE ON HYDEPARK AVE, THEY JUST PUT IT THERE, NOW IT’S GOING. >> THE PHARMACIES I TALKED TO TODAY WERE AS SURPRISED AS THE ABO CUSTOMERS
Most CVS pharmacies are reducing their opening hours this spring
Updated: 4:45 PM EST January 27, 2023
Thousands of pharmacies at CVS locations nationwide will reduce their hours of operation starting this spring. will be affected by the change. When asked, the company did not immediately provide a list of affected locations. «New hours of operation for affected pharmacies will vary,» CVS spokeswoman Amy Thibault wrote in a statement. In a separate statement, Thibault said the company is revising its hours of operation to meet peak customer demand. “By adjusting hours of operation at select stores this spring, we are ensuring our pharmacy teams are available to serve patients when they need them most,” she wrote. But the CVS announcement comes amid a continued shortage of pharmacists. That shortage was cited as a reason hours were limited at Walgreens locations in September. Professor Todd Brown, executive director of the Massachusetts Independent Pharmacists Association, said a combination of particular issues were impacting retail pharmacies. decrease in reimbursements from pharmacy benefit managers,” he said. In August, Walgreens offered sign-up bonuses of up to $75,000 in an effort to recruit pharmacists. A search for retail pharmacist jobs on the CVS website found 3,192 current job openings.
Thousands of pharmacies in CVS locations nationwide will reduce their hours of operation starting this spring.
CVS operates more than 9,800 retail pharmacies across the country, and a spokesperson for the Rhode Island-based company confirmed that about two-thirds of locations will be affected by the change. When asked, the company did not immediately provide a list of affected locations.
«New hours of operation for affected pharmacies will vary,» CVS spokeswoman Amy Thibault wrote in a statement.
In a separate statement, Thibault said the company is revising its hours of operation to meet peak customer demand.
“By adjusting hours of operation at select stores this spring, we are ensuring our pharmacy teams are available to serve patients when they need it most,” she wrote.
But the CVS announcement comes amid an ongoing shortage of pharmacists. That shortage was cited as a reason hours were limited at Walgreens locations in September.
Professor Todd Brown, executive director of the Massachusetts Independent Pharmacists Association, said a combination of particular issues were impacting retail pharmacies.
«They have a history of not providing enough staff or running a lean organization where pharmacists are stressed and that’s complicated by recent reimbursement cuts from pharmacy benefit managers,» he said.
In August, Walgreens offered sign-up bonuses of up to $75,000 in an effort to recruit pharmacists.
A search for retail pharmacist jobs on the CVS website found 3,192 current job openings.