'We must act quickly': Delaware leaders issue consumer protections amid pharmacy closures

Amid ongoing pharmacy closures, Delaware wants residents to be prepared. 

Having filed for bankruptcy this past spring, 29 Rite Aid locations in Delaware, along with other major chain names in the state, are expected to close, which is expected to throw patient access to necessary medications into disarray.  

This potential domino effect has led to state Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro issuing a bulletin on July 3, with the hopes of minimizing this upheaval, effective immediately.  

Here’s what First State patients should know.  

What is happening? 

Amid mass closures of Rite Aid locations, Navarro has issued a bulletin informing health care insurance carriers and pharmacy benefit managers of what needs to be done. 

The bulletin follows an emergency order that was issued by the Board of Pharmacy, which went into effect on July 1.   

In addition to reminding carriers and managers of their responsibilities, the bulletin also outlines what must be done to ensure a “continuity of care and prevent disruptions.” 

These measures include: 

• Honoring one-time emergency refills for “non-controlled medications,” as outlined in the emergency order.  
• Streamlining the prescription transfer process for patients from closed to new pharmacies. 
• Maintaining pharmacy networks to ward off pharmacy deserts, “particularly in rural and underserved areas.” 
• Providing “dedicated support methods” such as web portals or hotlines to aid patients with prescription transfers. 

The emergency order will be in effect for approximately three months, while the bulletin itself will remain in effect unless otherwise withdrawn or overridden.  

What happened to Rite-Aid?

Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy for the second time in several years back in May. Since then, over 700 stores across the country have been earmarked for closure.  

Delaware is no different. The latest round of store shutdowns targets 29 locations in the First State, including those based in Smyrna, New Castle and Wilmington.

Many locations under other big-name pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens have also shut their doors for good over the last several months, with many more soon to follow.  

These closures would “disrupt patient access to medications,” with the state Department of Insurance anticipating an uptick in requests for prescription transfers as more and more displaced patients try to find new pharmacies, according to the bulletin.  

What should Delawareans do? 

A sign inside a Walgreens Pharmacy tells patrons that the pharmacy is closed. Pharmacy chains across the country are reportedly altering their hours to deal with a lack of workers in the industry.

Navarro advises providers and residents alike to take the next steps “to ensure continued access to necessary medications.” 

Providers and health care systems are advised to reach out to their patients and encourage them to switch pharmacy choices either via the necessary portals or direct contact. 

For patients still with Rite Aid, Navarro recommends they find and transfer their medications to a nearby local pharmacy and then communicate this change with their providers or utilize healthcare portals to make this adjustment.  

What else is being done?

Amid the many highlights of the final night of the 2025 legislative session, Gov. Matt Meyer signed a Senate bill that would help Delawareans amid ongoing pharmacy closures.  

Rite Aid pharmacy workers give instructions to people inside a pickup truck on how to do a self-swab coronavirus test at the pharmacy’s site in Smyrna.

Sponsored by Sen. Nicole Poore, Senate Bill 180 would grant the state Board of Pharmacy the authority to update the current licensing system.  

These modernizations would include specific guidelines on how Delaware can best prepare for and manage emergencies, which would help make it easier for pharmacies to issue prescriptions to patients in a more timely and efficient manner.  

This would include allowing “out-of-state licensees to practice in Delaware in emergencies” as decided upon by the Board of Pharmacy and the Delaware Secretary of State, and making it legal for pharmacies to “treat faxed prescription transfers of non-controlled medications the same as written transfers” if all the required information is included in the prescription, according to a press release issued by Meyer's office on June 30.

Poore said in a statement that this bill, while “a long time in the making,” was brought to the forefront in the wake of the Rite Aid closures.  

“We must act quickly to ensure continuity in the operations of our state’s remaining pharmacies,” Poore said.  

Rep. Kam Smith, who pushed for the bill’s passage in the House, echoed this urgency. 

“As Delaware communities continue to feel the deep impact of widespread pharmacy closures, we must act quickly,” Smith said in a statement. “For many families, these pharmacies are more than just a place to fill prescriptions ... they are a lifeline.”  

Meyer reiterated the importance of allowing out-of-state licensed pharmacists to practice in Delaware when emergency situations warrant it.

“Delawareans deserve 21st-century healthcare," he said, "and that includes fast access to quality pharmaceuticals.”

This new law is slated to take effect next year.  

Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at [email protected].