For many rural patients, getting treated for a sore throat or the flu is needlessly burdensome. It can mean missing work, driving hours, waiting days for an appointment, or ending up in urgent care for a problem that should have been handled quickly. That is what provider shortages look like in practice. Seventy-four million Americans live in areas with health care shortages, and by 2036 the United States could be short by as many as 86,000 physicians. Yet many states still prevent pharmacists, one of the most accessible health care professionals in these communities, from treating minor, protocol-driven conditions. That should change.
Many rural patients live far from a hospital, and even routine care can impose real costs. A parent seeking treatment for a child’s flu or strep throat may have to take an entire day off work just to get a basic prescription. Pharmacists, by contrast, are already located in many of the communities where physician access is limited. A nationwide analysis found that 88.9 percent of Americans live within five miles of a community pharmacy and 96.5 percent live within 10 miles. For minor conditions, a pharmacy visit can be faster, closer and less expensive than a trip to a doctor’s office, urgent care, or an emergency room.
Pharmacist care can also lower costs for both patients and public programs. When minor illnesses are pushed into urgent care centers, physician offices, or emergency rooms, patients face higher out-of-pocket costs, longer delays and more time spent seeking care.
Justin Leventhal is a Senior Policy Analyst for the American Consumer Institute, a nonprofit education and research organization that advocates for consumers through evidence-based analysis and data. Follow Justin on X @JustinLeventhal