Last month, an AL(dot)com piece by Savannah Tryens-Fernandes claimed Alabama had lost more than one pharmacy a week since 2018.
"Since 2018, about 350 pharmacies in Alabama closed their doors," Tryens-Fernandes wrote. "That's more than one a week. Now a coalition of independent pharmacies based mostly in northern Alabama are taking on the companies they say are to blame."
If that were true, 350 pharmacies would be a sizeable portion of Alabama's nearly 1,300 existing chain and community retail pharmacies.
However, regardless of the reason for the claim, it turns out that it is not true.
According to a public records request to the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy obtained by 1819 News, 252 chain and community retail pharmacies closed between 2019 and 2024. However, 123 pharmacies opened during that same period, putting the net number at 129 fewer pharmacies in Alabama since the end of 2018.
Despite the apparent inaccuracy, Tryens-Fernandes' story alleged Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are to blame, in part, and are the subject of a lawsuit filed by four north Alabama pharmacies and one Tennessee pharmacy against telemedicine company GoodRx and PBMs claiming "a conspiracy to fix prices paid to pharmacies," according to the Tryens-Fernandes report.
The subject was also considered in the Alabama Statehouse last year. Legislation sponsored by State Rep. Phillip Rigsby (R-Huntsville) would have added "reporting and practice restrictions to how PBMs operate. "
Similar legislation is expected to be filed during this year's legislative session.
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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