“Virginia’s Pharmacy Desert Panic: Meanwhile, Southwest Virginia Can’t Even Get a Doctor”
In a bipartisan show of concern, lawmakers have introduced the “Save Local Pharmacies Act” to tackle Virginia’s so-called “pharmacy deserts.” With somber faces, they announced that five counties in Virginia have no pharmacies, and 15 others are hanging onto just one like it’s the last lifeboat on the Titanic.
Well, here’s a newsflash from Southwest Virginia: we’ve got five counties without an OB/GYN. No prenatal care. No labor and delivery. If you’re pregnant in these parts, your best bet is either a two-hour drive or a prayer. But please, tell us more about the tragedy of driving a few extra miles for aspirin.
PBM Problems and Penny-Pinching Prescriptions
The heart of the issue is those dastardly Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)—the middlemen who reimburse rural pharmacies $1.09 per prescription while it costs over $10 to fill it. That’s like selling a Big Mac for a nickel and wondering why McDonald’s goes bankrupt.
Senator Travis Hackworth, who used to own a rural pharmacy, sympathized: “I know what it’s like to spend $10 to make $5.” Sure, Senator, that’s rough—but you know what else is rough? Women in Southwest Virginia having to plan their pregnancies around Google Maps and gas station pit stops.
Kilgore’s “Critical Care” Talk, But What About Ballad’s Monopoly?
Delegate Terry Kilgore lamented that when pharmacies close, communities lose access to vaccines and health screenings. He’s right—but can we have some real talk for a second? The bigger issue isn’t just pharmacies; it’s that Ballad Health has an iron grip on healthcare in the region, thanks to Certificate of Need (CON) laws. These outdated, bureaucratic regulations give Ballad a monopoly on healthcare and block any new competition from stepping in.
Here’s a novel idea: scrap the communist-style CON regulations and let new healthcare providers set up shop in Southwest Virginia. Why are we protecting Ballad Health like it’s the last healthcare provider on Earth? Other states have opened their doors to competition, and guess what? Their residents actually have choices—and better care.
The Numbers Don’t Lie (But the Priorities Might)
The bill promises to save $39 million annually by cutting out bloated PBM fees. Kentucky saved $282 million, West Virginia saved $54 million, and Virginia’s ready to follow suit. But here’s the kicker: what good is saving millions if we’re still stuck with a healthcare monopoly that limits options and leaves us without OB/GYNs? Maybe some of that saved money could be used to bring actual doctors to our region—and keep the pharmacies open while we’re at it.
Ribbon-Cuttings for Pharmacies, But No Deliveries for Babies
Lawmakers love a good ribbon-cutting ceremony when a pharmacy opens, but where’s the groundbreaking for a new OB/GYN clinic or birthing center? It’s hard to take their panic about “pharmacy deserts” seriously when pregnant women in Southwest Virginia have to choose between a 100-mile drive or an ambulance ride they can’t afford.
The Bottom Line: Stop Handing Out Band-Aids, Start Fixing the System
If lawmakers are serious about healthcare access, they need to look beyond prescriptions. Sure, it’s nice to get Tylenol without driving an hour, but what we really need is actual competition in healthcare—not just protection for Ballad Health’s monopoly.
So yes, save the pharmacies. But how about saving Southwest Virginia from being a healthcare wasteland while you’re at it? Otherwise, we’ll end up with shiny new pharmacies… and still nowhere to deliver the next generation of Virginians.
—Mountain Bee Satire