Connecticut
More Pharmacy Chains Closing Connecticut Stores: What's Behind It?
CONNECTICUT — Drugstore chains Walgreens and Rite Aid announced a slew of pharmacy closings this week, creating more uncertainty among Connecticut residents about where they can get their prescriptions filled as pharmacy deserts become more common.
CVS also has a plan to shutter stores.
Chain pharmacy executives have cited a variety of reasons for closing stores in Connecticut and other states, including reduced spending by inflation-weary customers, low reimbursement rates for pharmacy care and low dispensing fees for Medicaid enrollees.
Walgreens this week announced that it is planning to close “certain underperforming stores” as part of a “significant multiyear footprint optimization program.” The announcement was made following the release of the Illinois-based Walgreens Boots Alliance third-quarter earnings report.
Pharmacies have also said that current business models are outdated in an environment of increased competition from stores that sell much of the same merchandise, and pharmacies are still adjusting to a spike in demand for services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are the closings big pharmacy chains have announced:
- Walgreens plans to close a “significant share” of its 8,600 U.S.stores nationwide to turn around its struggling pharmacy model. In an earnings call with investors Thursday, Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Timothy Wentworth said as many as 25 percent of the stores — about 2,150 of them — could close. That’s on top of about 2,000 stores the Deerfield, Illinois-based chain has closed over the past 10 years, 484 of them since February.
- Rite Aid, struggling under billions of dollars in debt and more than a thousand federal, state and local lawsuits accusing the chain of illegally filling painkiller prescriptions, said in court filings that it will close another 27 stores in two states — or virtually all of its Michigan and Ohio pharmacies. That’s on top of the nearly 500 stores the chain has already closed.
- CVS has shuttered about 600 stores since 2022 and plans to close 300 more this year. The closings “are based on our evaluation of changes in population, consumer buying patterns and future health needs to ensure we have the right pharmacy format in the right locations for patients,” CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault said in an email to CNN early this year.
What does it all mean for Connecticut?
An Associated Press analysis in early June shows that states have several chain pharmacy options. In Connecticut the brand names include the aforementioned Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid, along with pharmacies at big box stores like Target and Walmart and supermarkets like Big Y, Stop & Shop and Shoprite.
Whether independent or a chain, pharmacies can be important assets in their communities. They are health centers where the pharmacists and staff know everyone’s names and the drugs they’re taking, and often can spot signs of a serious illness. These local businesses are often stocked with supplies such as catheters, colostomy supplies and diabetes test strips that people need to stay in their homes as they navigate serious illnesses.
The AP analysis focused on rural communities, finding the gaps are greatest in those states. An earlier study by University of Southern California researchers found that Black and Latino neighborhoods in 30 large US. cities had fewer pharmacies than white and diverse neighborhoods from 2007 to 2015, before the current wave of pharmacy closings.
“If you’re located in a low-income neighborhood, and effectively in a Black and Latinx neighborhood, having any pharmacy is less common. And having a pharmacy that meets your needs is much less common,” Jenny Guadamuz, a co-author of the study, told CNN.
The question prevails, can Connecticut’s independents close a potential gap caused by bigger names closing?
The state’s independent pharmacies face their own set of challenges and are likely unable to fill pharmacy voids, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association, a trade group that represents more than 19,400 independent pharmacists.
The group said in a statement earlier this year that new Medicare and Medicaid rules resulting in lower prescription reimbursements, in particular, put a third of independent drugstores at risk of closure and that “millions of patients could be stranded without a pharmacy.”
The latest 12-month NCPA statistics for Connecticut are:
- Number of independent community pharmacies: 120
- Total sales: $507,360,000
- Pharmacy sales: $470,322,720
- Front-end sales: $37,037,280
- Total number of employees: 1,428
- Total prescriptions filled: 7,946,160
- Part D prescriptions filled: 2,781,156
- Medicaid prescriptions filled: 1,271,386
Patients suffer when pharmacies disappear, industry experts said.
“You can think of a closure as a disruption of care,” Guadamuz, who is an assistant professor at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, told CNN last fall. “You had a routine: You would go to a pharmacy that was geographically accessible — ideally affordable — and was probably preferred by your health insurance plan. And then that pharmacy is no longer there.”
Pharmacy access is an important consideration in decisions about store closings, CVS spokesman Matt Blanchette told The AP, but the company also looks at local market dynamics, population shifts and competition from stores selling the same over-the-counter products, he said.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
Find out what’s happening in Across Connecticutwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Find out what’s happening in Across Connecticutwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
(Editor’s note: All information is via the National Weather Service and all updates are posted as they come in with the most recent alerts on top.)
…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM EDT
FOR SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAVEN COUNTIES…
At 233 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over North Haven, or
near New Haven, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE…Radar indicated.
IMPACT…Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind
damage to trees and power lines.
This severe storm will be near…
Wallingford and Guilford around 240 PM EDT.
Killingworth and North Madison around 250 PM EDT.
Clinton around 255 PM EDT.
Westbrook around 300 PM EDT.
UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Northwestern New Haven County until 5:15 p.m.
“At 214 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 1.5 inches are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include: Waterbury, Wolcott, Cheshire and Middlebury.
UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northern New London County Until 315 PM EDT.
“At 213 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Hebron, or near Colchester, moving east at 45 mph. HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail….IMPACT…Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind damage to trees and power lines.”
This severe thunderstorm will be near:
Lebanon and Bozrah around 220 PM EDT.
Norwich and Sprague around 225 PM EDT.
Jewett City and Griswold around 230 PM EDT.
Voluntown around 240 PM EDT.
UPDATE: A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for parts of Fairfield, Middlesex and New Haven counties until 3 p.m.
“At 215 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Seymour, or near Naugatuck, moving east at 40 mph. HAZARD…Golf ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
This severe storm will be near…
Naugatuck and Hamden around 220 PM EDT.
New Haven and North Haven around 225 PM EDT.
Wallingford around 230 PM EDT.
North Branford around 235 PM EDT.
Guilford and Branford around 240 PM EDT.
Killingworth and North Madison around 250 PM EDT.
Clinton around 255 PM EDT.
Westbrook around 300 PM EDT.
UPDATE: A flood advisory is in effect until 4:15 p.m. for New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties.
“At 222 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area,” the weather service said.
Some locations that will experience flooding include: Jewett City, Meriden, Middletown, Wallingford, Norwich, Colchester, East Hampton, Durham, Salem, Hamden, Cheshire,
Cromwell, Griswold, Portland, Prospect, East Haddam, Haddam, Lebanon, Bethany and Preston.
UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for parts of Tolland and Windham counties until 2:45 p.m.
“At 217 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Willimantic, or near Windham, moving east at 35 mph….HAZARD…Tennis ball size hail.
Locations impacted include: Mansfield, Windham, Plainfield, Willimantic, Coventry, Brooklyn,
Columbia, Canterbury, Chaplin, Hampton, and Scotland.
UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for parts of Fairfield, New Haven and Middlesex counties until 3 p.m.
“At 156 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Brookfield, or near Newtown, moving east at 40 mph. HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail….IMPACT…Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind damage to trees and power lines.”
This severe thunderstorm will be near:
Southbury and Newtown around 200 PM EDT.
Monroe and Seymour around 210 PM EDT.
Naugatuck and Woodbridge around 215 PM EDT.
New Haven and Hamden around 225 PM EDT.
North Haven around 230 PM EDT.
Wallingford and Branford around 235 PM EDT.
Guilford around 240 PM EDT.
Killingworth and North Madison around 250 PM EDT.
Clinton around 255 PM EDT.
UPDATE: The National Weather Service in Norton has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Hartford County until 5:45 p.m.
“At 145 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly. HAZARD…Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms….IMPACT…Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include: Hartford, New Britain, West Hartford, Bristol, Manchester, East Hartford, Southington, Glastonbury, Newington, Vernon, Windsor, Wethersfield, South Windsor, Farmington, Simsbury, Bloomfield, Berlin, Rocky Hill, Avon and Plainville.
UPDATE: A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for southern Litchfield County until 5 p.m.
“At 147 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 2 inches in 1
hour. Additional rainfall amounts up to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.”
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include: New Milford, Thomaston, Woodbury Center, Oakville, New Preston, Northwest Harwinton, Terryville, Watertown, Plymouth, Woodbury, Bethlehem, Washington, Morris, Roxbury, Bridgewater, Gulls Hollow, Bethlehem Village, Hotchkissville, Lakeside and Horse Heaven.
UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for central Fairfield County and south central New Haven County until 2:30 p.m.
“At 138 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Brewster, moving southeast at 40 mph. HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail….IMPACT…Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind damage to trees and power lines.”
This severe thunderstorm will be near:
Danbury and Ridgefield around 145 PM EDT.
Newtown around 150 PM EDT.
Monroe and Weston around 155 PM EDT.
Fairfield and Trumbull around 200 PM EDT.
Bridgeport around 205 PM EDT.
Stratford around 210 PM EDT.
Milford around 215 PM EDT.
UPDATE: The National Weather Service has a severe thunderstorm warning for north central Fairfield County until 2:30 p.m.
“At 128 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Pawling, moving east at 25 mph,” the weather service said. “HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail…IMPACT…Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind damage to trees and power lines.”
This severe thunderstorm will be near: Sherman and New Fairfield around 135 PM EDT.
UPDATE: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Hartford and Tolland County until 2:30 p.m.
“At 129 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Suffield to near Hartford to Southington, moving east at 40 mph…HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail,” the weather service said. “…IMPACT…Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include: Springfield, Hartford, New Britain, West Hartford, Manchester, East
Hartford, Enfield, Southington, Glastonbury, Newington, Vernon, Windsor, Agawam, West Springfield, Wethersfield, Mansfield, South Windsor, Farmington, Bloomfield, and Berlin.
UPDATE: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Hartford County in northern Connecticut until 1:45 p.m.
“At 1238 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Norfolk to near Dover Plains, moving east at 45 mph….HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail,” said the National Weather Service.
* Locations impacted include: Hartford, New Britain, West Hartford, Bristol, Enfield,
Southington, Newington, Windsor, Agawam, Wethersfield, Farmington, Simsbury, Bloomfield, Berlin, Rocky Hill, Avon, Plainville, Longmeadow, Suffield, and Windsor Locks.
Original post: CONNECTICUT — A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 7 p.m. Sunday for the entire state of Connecticut.
The National Weather Service said wind gusts up to 75 mph are possible, along with hail and frequent lightning.
“After a mainly benign and muggy morning, things dramatically change this PM,” said WFSB 3 TV meteorologists. “An approaching cold front kicks off a couple rounds of rain and storms. Be ready between 1-10pm from northwest to southeast. Some storms in the afternoon and again early this evening will likely be strong to severe, and that’s why we have declared it a FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY. The greatest impact will likely be frequent lightning, followed by downpours and strong and damaging wind gusts. Large hail is possible if we get a few supercells to develop, and even an isolated tornado is possible, but not the primary threat. Prepare for possible tree damage, power outages, etc. We’re now in the level 3 of 5 risk category for receiving severe wind producing storms! Take this seriously folks! (Read/watch more at WFSB 3 TV).
See also: Another Prominent Bank Closing 2 More Locations: Here’s Where, When
Here are the forecast details for southern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 3pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 85. Southwest wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and midnight. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southwest wind around 8 mph becoming north in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 10 to 13 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Independence Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 89. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 10pm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 61. Northwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday: A slight chance of showers between 10am and 11am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. North wind 10 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 84. North wind 3 to 5 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Light south wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
Independence Day: A chance of showers before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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A New York man was in custody after police say he tried to drown his twins at a beach in Connecticut over the weekend.
At 2:30 a.m. Saturday, patrol officers approached a parked SUV at the beach in West Haven and, shortly afterward, heard screaming coming from the water, authorities said.
The patrol officers followed the screams and found an “adult male and two small children” in the water. As the officers entered the water, police say, the adult male yelled, “Stay back.” Officials said that is when it was clear the male was “deliberately drowning his children.”
Additional officers and rescue boats arrived and entered the water almost 100 yards away from shore. A human chain was formed to get the children to shore, and life-saving measures were performed.
The children, who are under 3 years old, were at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital in critical condition in the intensive care unit, but said to be improving. Authorities say the children are twins — a boy and a girl.
Later Sunday evening, Borer posted on Facebook that the kids were both under pediatric critical care and making slight progress, with one of the twins taken off intubation.
Three police officers were also treated for minor injuries.
Romney Desronvil, 41, of New York, was taken into custody and charged with two counts each of attempted homicide and risk of injury.
The children’s mother was in New York at the time of the incident but has since arrived in New Haven, Connecticut, to be with her children.
At a press conference Saturday evening, West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer praised the officers and fire department members for their quick action.
“The seconds and the timing of the police officers that just happened to be driving by when this incident was occurring, it’s really remarkable,” she said.
Borer said when she met with the mother at the hospital to provide any support she needed.
West Shore Fire Chief Stephen Scafariello said first responders are getting peer support and help from the employee assistance program to deal with trauma after the incident.
“Years ago, we had to keep everything bottled up inside,” he said. “It didn’t work very well for all of us, so we’re encouraging them to talk to someone, share your emotions.”
This particular case hits home even harder, he said, seeing as it concerned children so young.
“All of our police officers, our firefighters, they’re dedicated,” he said. “To have that helpless feeling, to not be able to help a child is terrible.”
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