If you’ve relied on your local Rite Aid pharmacy to fill your prescriptions, you should be aware that nearly all Rite Aid pharmacy locations will be closed by next month.
So what happens to your prescriptions? Rite Aid will be transferring them to local third-party pharmacies in your area. Here’s where you can find out where Rite Aid pharmacy prescriptions will be transferred to and when most of Rite Aid’s remaining pharmacies will be closed.
Why are Rite Aid’s pharmacies closing?
Back in May, the struggling Rite Aid pharmacy chain announced that it had filed for bankruptcy and would cease operations. The chain immediately began winding down its business. As Fast Company previously reported, Rite Aid has announced multiple waves of store closures via court documents dating back to early May.
As of June 30, Rite Aid had announced the closures of more than 1,000 locations, nearing the 1,277 number of locations the company said it operated when it originally filed for bankruptcy.
While some Rite Aid locations have been acquired by competitors, such as 64 by CVS, most Rite Aid locations will be shuttering for good by the time the company’s bankruptcy proceedings wind down later this year.
Which Rite Aid pharmacies are still open?
Rite Aid has already closed a majority of its stores and pharmacies. According to the company’s pharmacy closure list, hundreds of pharmacies have already closed for good. The first pharmacies on the list began shutting their doors on June 2.
But as of today’s date (July 28), the list still shows that more than 150 locations are still open (though over a dozen are expected to permanently shut today).
The last store on the list, the Rite Aid Pharmacy at 5627-99 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is listed to be closed on Friday, August 8.
However, it should be noted that this list is apparently just referencing the actual pharmacies that are operating in the closing store locations. The non-pharmacy parts of the Rite Aid locations may remain open for longer.
Fast Company reached out to Rite Aid for more information on when final store closures are expected. We will update this post if we hear back.
Where do I pick up my Rite Aid pharmacy prescriptions now?
If you have regular, recurring prescriptions at a soon-to-close Rite Aid pharmacy, Rite Aid says that it has taken steps to have your prescriptions automatically transferred to a third-party pharmacy in your area.
To find out where your prescriptions have been or will be transferred to, you can use Rite Aid’s Pharmacy Closure and Transfer List.
To use the tool, enter the zip code of the Rite Aid pharmacy that previously held your prescriptions. The list will then filter to reveal Rite Aid locations in that zip code. Look for the location that matches your Rite Aid pharmacy’s address.
After its address, you’ll see a column that says “Last Day of Pharmacy Business.” The date in that column tells you when that Rite Aid pharmacy is closing. The columns after that date will show you the “New Pharmacy Name” of where your prescriptions are being transferred to (a local Walgreens, for example) and the new pharmacy’s address and phone number.
It may be a good idea to call ahead to the new pharmacy to confirm that they have received your prescription transfer before visiting. You may also be able to work with your new pharmacy and/or doctor’s office to have your prescriptions sent to a different pharmacy of your choosing.
