December 15, 2024
Community Awareness Report
HEY KEANSBURG LET'S CHAT!
Keansburg, New Jersey, is a borough located in Monmouth County, established in 1917 from sections of Middletown Township and Raritan Township. The name Raritan is derived from the Dutch term for the area originally inhabited by the Lenni Lenape people, known as the Naraticongs, who were part of the Iroquois Nation and resided there for thousands of years. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a borough is defined as a medieval fortified group of houses forming a town with special duties and privileges. Keansburg is colloquially known as "The Burg." However, certain issues are notable about this small maritime village on the bay.
Keansburg lacks a bank, fresh produce markets, Black churches, and its public school system is deficient in quality Black history education, despite over 20% of the student population being Afro-Americans. Today's article addresses the closure of a beloved pharmacy that served the community for 30 years, providing essential medical services, including prescriptions, to a portion of Keansburg's population of 9,648 people, as recorded by the 2023 U.S. Census.
The abrupt closure of Keansburg Pharmacy has resulted in a significant portion of its clientele being redirected to the nearby CVS Pharmacy located at 14 Highway 36 West, Keansburg NJ, sometimes referred to as Hazlet Township NJ. The staffing at CVS is half that of Keansburg Pharmacy, and the workspace is considerably smaller, causing a strain as possibly over a thousand patients may have have been transferred from the Keansburg Pharmacy that served the public for 30 years. This has left the CVS staff overwhelmed and facing shortages of prescription supplies due to the sudden influx of approximately 1,000 new customers from Keansburg, in addition to their regular clientele. Despite these challenges, the CVS Pharmacy staff maintain professionalism, even as former Keansburg Pharmacy customers express distress over unavailable medications due to depleted stock.
According to a report by Karen Wall in the Toms River, Patch newspaper article titled "More Pharmacy Chains Closing in NJ: What's Behind It?" on June 28, 2024, shares, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS have announced significant pharmacy closures in New Jersey, contributing to the increasing issue of pharmacy deserts. The closures are attributed to reduced consumer spending, low Medicaid reimbursement rates, and outdated business models amid rising competition.
Wall's article further shares that Walgreens plans to close up to 2,150 stores nationwide, adding to the 2,000 already closed over the past decade. Rite Aid, facing debt and legal challenges, is closing nearly all of its pharmacies in Michigan and Ohio, in addition to 500 stores previously shut. CVS has closed around 600 stores since 2022 and plans to close an additional 300 this year, influenced by shifts in population and consumer behaviors.
Independent pharmacies like Keansburg Pharmacy, of which there are 848 in New Jersey, face challenges as well per Wall's report. The National Community Pharmacists Association warns that many may close due to new Medicare rules resulting in lower reimbursements. In 2022, independent pharmacists filled over 56 million prescriptions, significantly contributing to local economies. Wall's report highlights that these closures disrupt patient care, complicating residents' access to medications.
In conclusion
The pattern of abrupt pharmacy closures does not justify the insensitive shutdown of a long-standing pharmacy without adequate public notification. The citizens of Keansburg, who have supported these institutions, deserve a seamless transition that ensures the accurate and safe transfer of consumers to the designated pharmaceutical provider. State officials must take a more proactive approach in managing the shutdowns of pharmaceutical providers and consider the additional stress placed on the staff of the newly acquired pharmacy before permitting such significant changes. It is important to remember that Keansburg residents, who endured the devastation of Superstorm Sandy, are still at risk of cultural erasure due to gentrification. The sudden closure of a family pharmacy in small boroughs like Keansburg can diminish community morale, leaving residents uninformed until the last minute, which in turn affects their voting power.
Question:
Do you believe that the sudden, unannounced closure of a long-standing family pharmacy is fair to consumers?
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