![]() In August, the company responded to complaints by explaining that “there are some instances in which we’ve had to adjust or reduce pharmacy operating hours, as we work to balance staffing and resources to meet the needs of our customers and patients” – but those closings came without warning. The company’s more recent troubles keeping stores open because of labor shortages has led to conflict in Western Massachusetts and elsewhere in New England – and have been occasionally lumped in with alarmist concerns about rampant shoplifting. In recent years Walgreens has announced two waves of planned store closings for a total of around 1,000 locations shuttered. “They’re the greatest, both professionally and personally, and deserve all the business we can give them,” said a Nextdoor user identified as Nancy Brown, referring to Skenderian. Neighbors in online discussions, though, pointed worried customers to locally and family owned pharmacies such as Skenderian Apothecary in Mid-Cambridge and Inman Pharmacy in Inman square. The company website was being updated so customers could be better warned, she said, and people with questions about medications could talk with a Walgreens pharmacist using an online video chat feature. “We apologize for the inconvenience and thank our patients and customers in Cambridge for their patience as we worked to safely reopen our pharmacies.” In such instances, we will direct customers to other nearby Walgreens locations for prescription needs, care and support,” Lathan said. “In communities impacted by staffing shortages, we adjust hours of operation with the goal of creating minimal disruption for customers and patients. Kris Lathan, a spokesperson for Walgreens, confirmed three closings over September and that they were related to staffing issues related to a national pharmacist shortage. “River Street was closed Tuesday and Thursday last week as well as yesterday, and their IT team hasn’t kept info updated on openings and closures,” Connolly said Monday. The Cambridgeport pharmacy has had at least three previous unexpected closings in the past four weeks, according to residents’ discussions on social media, and CVS locations have been affected as well. “They are very nice there and are trying their best to fill prescriptions, but I’ve learned to have some extra meds on hand in case they can’t fill my order right away,” an Avon Hill resident said on Nextdoor in early September, referring to the Walgreens in Central Square. Walgreens has another store near Porter Square and in Somerville near Inman Square that has been less affected by shortages, and on Somerville Avenue between Porter and Union squares. The stores are at 625 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, and 330 River St., Cambridgeport. Instead, it was just more confusion at locations suffering from staffing issues and a nationwide shortage of pharmacists, with some working on-call and shared between locations, Connolly said after speaking with Walgreens representatives. “ Constituents were left in the lurch, with some prescriptions filled but not yet picked up being locked behind the counter,” Connolly said after brief reports that the stores had shut down completely. He talked about the issue Monday with the media. Mike Connolly to consider reporting the issue to state regulators. (Photo: Mike Connolly via Twitter)Įrratic pharmacy operations at two Walgreens shops in Cambridge have been worrying customers, with abrupt, intermittent closings leading state Rep. Mike Connolly talks with a television reporter Monday outside the Walgreens in Central Square. The INSIDE RX® mark is owned by Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.State Rep. Inside Rx is administered by Inside Rx, LLC, 1 Express Way, St. ![]() For a complete list of participating pharmacies, see pharmacies. For a full list of Inside Rx program terms see full terms or call 80. Age restrictions may apply to the purchase of certain drugs. ![]() ![]() Prescription drug and vaccine pricing may vary depending on the pharmacy and Inside Rx users are responsible for paying the discounted cost of their prescription(s), including vaccine administrative fees, where applicable. Inside Rx does not guarantee that the price you will pay at the pharmacy will be the same price displayed in advance of purchase. Pricing shown online or via the Inside Rx app are subject to change in real time. Inside Rx cannot be used with any insurance benefit, copay assistance programs, or by persons covered by state-funded or federal-funded programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare for purchases of certain medications, even if processed outside the benefit as an uninsured (cash-paying) patient. *Average savings based on usage and Inside Rx data as compared to cash prices average savings for all generics are 78% 37% for select brand medications restrictions apply.
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