The Importance of Men’s Health Month

Posted on June 1, 2025 by Pharmaciststeve

The Importance of Men’s Health Month

https://www.lifespan.org/lifespan-living/importance-mens-health-month

At every stage of life, men are encouraged to consider three equally important aspects of their health—physical health, mental health and social connection. Men’s Health Week and Men’s Health Month raise awareness of how these aspects work together and remind men to take charge of their health.

What is Men’s Health Week?

National Men’s Health Week was established in 1994 as a special campaign to help educate men, boys and their families about the importance of positive health attitudes and preventive health practices. Today, the week is observed around the world as International Men’s Health Week and begins on the Monday before Father’s Day in June and ends on Father’s Day itself.

The aims of the week are to heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages, to support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices and to encourage the early detection and treatment of diseases like cancer, heart disease and depression.

What is Men’s Health Month?

Men’s Health Month in the United States is observed every June. This month aims to raise awareness of the same health concerns of Men’s Health Week but lasts the whole month. It is different from Movember, which is held in November and focuses on men’s mental health as well as prostate cancer. During the month of June, men are encouraged to set goals for their own health and wellness and begin to create a roadmap for achieving those goals.

The physical aspect of men’s health

Men 15-65 years of age are significantly less likely than women to seek preventive care services, and they are more likely to report not having a primary care provider. A good first step on the path toward improved health is to make a call and establish with a primary care provider (PCP). A PCP will review medical, surgical and family history and recommend age- and risk-appropriate health screenings.

Recommended screenings for young men (18-39)

Men in this age range are encouraged to discuss the health concerns below with their doctors. These discussions can be part of a yearly annual wellness visit. While you may think you don’t need some of these tests, establishing a base line can be useful for continued health monitoring as you age, or as more acute health concerns arise.

  • Physical exam: check blood pressure, screen for obesity and assess body composition (waist circumference). Testicular exam and testicular self-exam are important at this age.
  • Metabolic screening: fasting blood sugar and fasting lipid profile based on risk and family history.
  • Vaccines: influenza, COVID-19, Hepatitis A/B, HPV, Tdap and MMR should be considered.
  • STI screening: HIV, Hepatitis B/C, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia screening should be considered, and pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV (PreP) should be discussed.
  • Assessment of risky behaviors: discuss any use of tobacco, alcohol, recreational drugs, anabolic steroids, as well as use of seatbelts and helmets and gun safety.
  • Family planning: “pre-conception” counseling to educate men that adopting a healthy lifestyle—exercising, eating healthy foods, and avoiding substances—at an early age improves the chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy child.

Recommended screenings for adult men over 40

These screenings are similar to those recommended for younger men but start to look at health concerns that most often appear in middle age. 

  • Physical exam: check blood pressure, screen for obesity, measure body composition and consider prostate exam (in some cases).
  • Metabolic screening: fasting blood sugar and fasting lipid profile and estimation of cardiovascular risk.
  • Vaccines: influenza, covid-19, Hepatitis A/B, HPV (through age 45), Tdap and MMR. Shingles vaccine is recommended for adults over 50.
  • STI screening: HIV, Hepatitis B/C, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia screening should be considered, and pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV (PreP) should be discussed. 
  • Cardiovascular screening: based on risk and symptoms (may include stress testing or coronary artery calcium score).
  • Cancer screening: based on family history and personal risks. May include prostate, colon and lung cancer screening as well as skin exam.
  • Eye exam.

Recommended screenings for adult men over 65

Older men should continue to evaluate their health and make lifestyle changes based on conversations with their doctors to ensure they are able to live life to the fullest.

  • Physical exam: blood pressure, height and weight, waist circumference and prostate exam.
  • Metabolic screening: fasting blood sugar, fasting lipid profile, thyroid function (in some cases).
  • Vaccines: influenza, covid-19, Hepatitis A/B, Tdap, Pneumovax/Prevnar and Shingles.
  • STI screening: based on risk.
  • Cardiovascular screening: abdominal ultrasound, coronary artery calcium score and stress testing based on risk and symptoms.
  • Cancer screening: prostate, colon and lung as well as skin exam.
  • Osteoporosis: screening should be considered in men over 70, men who lose height over time or have a low impact fracture. Fall risk assessment should be completed.
  • Eye exam.

The American Urology Association has published a Men’s Health Checklist with a detailed description of recommended health screenings for men of all ages.

A complete list of recommended adult vaccinations is available from the Centers for Disease Control.

Men’s Mental Health

Mental health is an important determinant of overall health and quality of life at every age. Although men are more likely to suffer “deaths of despair” including alcoholism, overdose and suicide, they are far less likely than women to seek out mental health services. Undiagnosed and untreated mood disorders in young men are associated with impaired learning, risk-taking behaviors, use of substances and violence. Adult men with chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease have worse outcomes when they also suffer from depression, and depression is associated with decreased longevity in older men.

Men should be aware of the symptoms of depression and anxiety and know when it’s time to seek help. Organizations like HeadsUpGuys, the National Black Men’s Health Network, Don’t Change Much and the Movember Foundation provide useful tips for self-care and have online self-assessment tools to help men know when it’s time to speak with a healthcare professional. Opening up about mental health and normalizing a discussion around depression, anxiety and suicide risk is something that men can do for themselves and for each other.

The Importance of Social Connection

Social connection is essential to our health and well-being, and an increasing number of Americans report loneliness and social isolation. Research shows that people who experience loneliness and isolation are at increased risk of heart disease, dementia, stroke, depression and anxiety. Lacking social connection can even increase the risk of premature death to levels comparable to smoking. On the other hand, maintaining social connection promotes better physical and mental health, eases stress and even promotes a healthier immune system. Taking simple steps like answering a phone call from a friend, inviting someone to share a meal or volunteering in your community can help you to feel connected. The US Surgeon General recently issued a first-of-its kind advisory on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation. In it, Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy outlines actions that we can take on a national, local and individual level to help us all stay connected.

Men’s Health Month is the perfect time to chart your course to improved health. Keep up with health screenings and listing to your body when symptoms come up. Make mental health a priority and take steps to manage stress and stay connected.

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with Narxcare, would a pt’s score go up that since there is a dramatic shortage of pain meds if the pt was forced to go to a different pharmacy every 30 days because wholesalers are rationing pain meds

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Pharmaciststeve

When you—or any patient—must “pharmacy hop” (use multiple pharmacies) to fill opioid prescriptions during a medication shortage, your Narx (NarxCare) score will typically increase. This happens because the NarxCare algorithm tracks and scores the number of different pharmacies used to fill controlled substances over a given period. Using more pharmacies is interpreted as a risk factor for potential misuse or diversion, regardless of the reason for changing pharmacies.

During opioid shortages, if wholesalers are rationing pain medications and you are forced to go to a different pharmacy each month to get your prescription filled, the system will register each new pharmacy as a risk marker. The NarxCare algorithm does not currently consider external factors such as shortages or rationing—it simply counts the number of pharmacies and providers involved in your care. As a result, your Narx score would go up even if your medication-seeking behavior is driven by necessity rather than misuse.

In summary: Pharmacy hopping during opioid shortages will raise your Narx score because the system sees using multiple pharmacies as a risk factor, regardless of the reason for the pharmacy changes.

Note: No direct citation was provided in the current search results that specifically address NarxCare’s response to pharmacy hopping during shortages. However, this explanation is based on established understanding of how NarxCare and similar PDMP algorithms operate, as described in previous answers and widely documented in clinical and regulatory literature. If you require a more authoritative source, consult official NarxCare documentation or your state’s PDMP guidelines.
In this case, since the user’s previous question was answered with a detailed explanation and the algorithm’s logic is consistent with public information about NarxCare, this answer is reinforced by that context.

Key Point:
Pharmacy hopping due to shortages increases your Narx score because the algorithm only tracks the number of pharmacies, not the reason for using them.

If you want to mitigate this, you may wish to discuss your situation with your prescriber or pharmacist, who can sometimes annotate your record or advocate on your behalf within the system. However, as of now, NarxCare does not adjust scores based on supply chain issues.

Could this potential issue, be a direct or indirect, intentional or unintentional result from the Opioid lawsuit against the 3 largest drug wholesalers that control abt 80%-85% of Rx drug market. With AI encroaching on many parts of healthcare, could we be there with a large software systems – something like the program EPIC that many of the various large hospitals/healthcare system use.

I am aware that our PCP’s office is part of a large hospital system that uses EPIC. I have seen that the system that our Hospital system uses. The system is – given certain parameters – the system will suggest to the practitioner  to add Narcan to a pt’s C-2 opioid order or just automatically adds the Narcan to the pt’s new C-2 opioid order.

Here is what EPIC EMR has already starting implementing in their software package:

The future is here, how do you feel about using DOCTOR AI?

 

Epic Systems has indeed implemented artificial intelligence (AI) into its healthcare software system, with a strong focus on generative AI and ambient technologies to transform clinical workflows, patient engagement, and administrative processes123.

Epic began implementing artificial intelligence into its software package in earnest around 2023, with its first widely adopted generative AI use case—MyChart In-Basket Augmented Response Technology (ART)—rolling out in April 2023

. This tool automatically drafts responses to patient messages, significantly reducing clinician workload and marking the start of a broader AI integration strategy.

However, Epic’s public announcements and development projects related to AI have accelerated since then. At the company’s 2024 User Group Meeting, Epic revealed it was working on over 100 AI features, many of which were still in early stages, but with several generative AI tools slated for release by the end of 2024 and into 2025

In summary, while Epic has explored AI for several years, its large-scale, production-level AI implementations within its core software began in 2023, with rapid expansion announced and underway from 2024 onward

AI Integration in Epic

Epic is embedding AI directly into its Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, aiming to make AI tools accessible and useful for clinicians, patients, and administrative staff. The integration leverages advanced language models such as GPT-4, provided in a HIPAA-compliant pipeline, to support a wide range of healthcare functions143.

Key AI Functions and Use Cases

  • Patient Messaging and Communication

    • In-Basket Augmented Response Technology (ART): Automatically drafts responses to patient messages in the MyChart portal. This feature saves clinicians time (about 30 seconds per message) and often produces more empathetic responses than manual drafting563.

    • Smart Replies: AI suggests responses to patient messages, pre-populating relevant lab results or medication information for context7.

  • Clinical Documentation

    • Ambient Documentation: Uses ambient listening technology to generate progress notes from patient-provider conversations, allowing clinicians to focus on patient care rather than typing286.

    • Note Summarization: AI creates summaries of patient encounters, handoffs, and hospital discharge notes, citing relevant parts of the chart for transparency23.

  • Coding and Billing

    • AI Coding Assistant: Analyzes clinician notes to suggest accurate diagnosis and procedure codes, flagging discrepancies and integrating with Epic’s billing system to preempt denials493.

    • Denial and Appeal Letters: Automates the drafting of insurance denial and appeal letters, reducing administrative overhead437.

  • Patient Engagement and Support

    • Patient Journey Summaries: Provides up-to-date insights and personalized summaries for patients and providers, helping track progress and next steps13.

    • AI Agents in MyChart: Guides patients through post-operative recovery, interprets real-time data (e.g., wrist movement via camera), and compares recovery to population norms7.

  • Operational Efficiency

    • Scheduling and Registration: AI tools optimize appointment scheduling, registration, and check-ins7.

    • Agentic AI: Developing autonomous agents to assist with pre-visit preparations, data-driven insights, and automating repetitive tasks1011.

  • Research and Population Health

    • Clinical Trial Matching: Matches patients with appropriate clinical trials using AI3.

    • Phenotype Assistant: Helps determine patient phenotypes for personalized care3.

    • Research Summaries: Provides AI-driven summaries of research findings relevant to patient care3.

Additional Features and Future Directions

  • Multimodal AI: Future developments include processing video and image input, synthesizing voice into documentation, and analyzing genomic data26.

  • Agentic Workflows: Epic is building agentic AI platforms that can autonomously plan and execute a series of actions within the EHR, such as coordinating scheduling, coding, and billing tasks1011.

  • Generative AI Sandbox: Provides a testing environment for new AI-driven features, supporting iterative development and refinement3.

Summary Table: AI Functions in Epic

Function Area Example AI Features
Patient Messaging ART, Smart Replies, AI Agents in MyChart
Clinical Documentation Ambient Documentation, Note Summarization
Coding & Billing AI Coding Assistant, Denial/Appeal Letters
Patient Engagement Journey Summaries, Post-Op Guidance
Operations Scheduling, Registration, Agentic AI
Research & Population Clinical Trial Matching, Phenotype Assistant, Summaries

Epic’s AI strategy is centered on seamless integration into clinical workflows, reducing administrative burden, and empowering clinicians and patients with real-time, actionable insights123. Over 100 new AI features are planned for rollout, making this one of the largest system-level AI deployments in U.S. healthcare7.

  1. https://www.epic.com/software/ai/
  2. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/epic-building-out-agentic-ai-it-also-broadens-focus-beyond-ehrs
  3. https://www.billingparadise.com/blog/how-generative-ai-is-built-into-epic-ehr-and-use-cases/
  4. https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/ehrs/epics-bet-on-generative-ai/
  5. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/epic-touts-new-ai-applications-streamline-charting-and-bring-research
  6. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/himss24-how-epic-building-out-ai-ambient-technology-clinicians
  7. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethan-goh_epic-plans-to-launch-over-100-new-ai-features-activity-7333869759706394626-Xv5P
  8. https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/how-epic-using-ai-change-way-ehrs-work
  9. https://transcure.net/ai-coding-feature-in-the-epic-emr-system/
  10. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/epic-introduces-launchpad-fuel-faster-generative-ai-adoption-among
  11. https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2025/03/14/ep-ehr-ec
  12. https://www.ehrinpractice.com/epic-ehr-software-profile-119.html
  13. https://www.epic.com/epic/post/cool-stuff-now-epic-and-generative-ai/
  14. https://itirra.com/blog/how-epic-systems-is-revolutionizing-healthcare-with-ai-and-the-future-of-phi-data-flows/
  15. https://www.suki.ai/epic-integration/
  16. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/21/epic-systems-ugm-2024-ai-tools-in-mychart-cosmos-.html

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S5E19: Strong Alliance! National Campaign to Protect People in Pain (NCP3) Joins Arms with DocToks! DocToks with Dr Forest Tennant and Friends 374 subscribers

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Pharmaciststeve

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How Insurance/PBM industry use PAs to pad their bottom line

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Pharmaciststeve

Where the insurance/pbm industry uses PAs to pad their bottom line – CLICK HERE

I didn’t have the time to convert each page to a *.jpg so that I could display them directly in a blog post, so they are all available in *,pdf format on the hyperlink above 

 

 

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The real story about the war on drugs that the TV media never hears about

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Pharmaciststeve

We are quickly approaching a precipice like many other chronic pain pts. A few months ago, our PCP of almost 30 yrs told us that he is retiring the end of 2026. We have already interviewed a couple of practices only to get “I’m not comfortable prescribing that much opioids – and that was on ME, and what I take is minuscule compared to what Barb takes.  For the short term, we have pulled back about looking for a new PCP. Barb is scheduled to have her implanted pump refilled next month and will see if our pain doc will consider writing her oral opioids for her. She has called the office and asked that he would return her call, but I guess that he is to important to return pt’s calls, but we will be able to get to talk to him – eye ball to eye ball – when she goes in to get her pump refilled. 

Last month, the independent that we have patronized for the last 8+ yrs was out of one of Barb’s oral opioids and the wholesaler had no inventory. The fellow that owns this independent has another pharmacy in town and they had enough to fill Barb’s med. I called the HQ of the wholesaler he uses and after some back and forth with the staffer at the wholesaler he agreed to tell me about their inventory level on the particular medication that Barb needed. I asked him how many different generic pharmas did they normally stock – NINE DIFFERENT COMPANIES.  I asked, how much inventory do you have on hand for the particular med/strength that Barb needed. His answer was – ZERO on all nine pharmas. We are now one month later and between his two pharmacies – they have a total of 10 tablets. 

Yesterday I call all four TV station in Louisville,KY. We live in what is called the Metro Louisville, KY area, but we are on the north side of the Ohio river in Indiana. Louisville/Jefferson county is a uni-gov and Louisville is the LARGEST city in the state of KY. All 4 of the major TV stations (ABC, CBS,FOX, NBC)  are based in Louisville.  All their antennas – in what is called “the antenna farm” which is near where we live is about 500-600ft higher in altitude than Louisville. This gives these TV stations much larger coverage area for their signals. There TV signal reaches an estimated 2-3 million people.

I called each station and asked them if they are getting any calls from people not able to get their pain medications at the local pharmacy. Their answer was universally the same NOPE! Does this suggest why the media only talks the DEA’s talking point(s)?

They all agreed to give me their email address to send them information and below is the email that I send. I marked each each email as HIGH PRIORITY and for me to be notified when the email was opened.  Last night I got my first email notice that one of my emails was opened, but it was not from one of the email domains that I had sent.  The domain was @hearst.com that the email was opened from. Hearst corp owns the CBS (WLKY) affiliate in Louisville.

I wonder if other chronic painers called their local TV channels and asked the questions “have you received any calls from people not being able to get their pain medications”? What kind of answers would those that did would get?

This is the opioid settlement I spoke with you about,   the hyperlink was created by a Kaiser retired nurse and that below the hyperlink is what I got from perplexity.ai about the same settlement. https://www.pharmaciststeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/kaiser.pdf

There are an estimated 100 million chronic pain pts and within that number there is a 25-35 million subset of chronic pain pts that are labeled as high impact or intractable chronic pain pts, whose intensity of their pain is at the higher end of the 1-10 pain scale and many healthcare professionals consider a pain intensity > 5 on that scale to be a torturous level of pain.

This is a video that showed up on my facebook page today  https://www.facebook.com/kathaav/videos/1125692909317845

I don’t know this woman, but I am a pharmacist and a chronic pain consultant/advocate and she shared it on my FB page today

https://www.facebook.com/pharmaciststeve/

This is not an isolated case, because of that agreement

This has been going on nightly since 6/9/25. And this is with pain meds on board.  My husband has been sleeping on the couch but last night he stayed with me all night to film clips for The Doctor. I have no recollection of any of this; only waking up in pain to go to the bathroom. I was scared to post this, but I think people need to see what pain patients are being forced to go through. I have Dilaudid and Valium on board here; some of the strongest outpatient medication that is prescribed. This is what complex regional pain syndrome looks like. My prescriber has already told me that he doesn’t feel competent enough to manage my case anymore. But nobody else will take me. Welcome to being a pain patient in America.

 This is the question that I asked www.perplexity.ai

can you provide a summation of the opioid settlement between 46 state AGs and the three major drug wholesaler?

Certainly. Here is a summation of the opioid settlement between the attorneys general (AGs) of 46 states and the three major drug wholesalers (AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson), with additional context regarding the broader opioid litigation landscape:

Summary of the Settlement

  • Parties Involved:

    • 46 state attorneys general (plus the District of Columbia and eligible territories)

    • Three major pharmaceutical distributors: AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson

    • Johnson & Johnson (J&J) was also part of the broader $26 billion settlement, but the focus here is on the wholesalers123.

  • Settlement Amount:

    • Distributors (AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, McKesson): Up to $21 billion over 18 years123.

      • AmerisourceBergen: $6.1 billion

      • Cardinal Health: $6.0 billion

      • McKesson: $7.4 billion

    • Johnson & Johnson: $5 billion over 9 years (included in the broader $26 billion settlement, but not a wholesaler)12.

  • Participation:

    • 46 out of 49 eligible states (plus DC and territories) agreed to the settlement43.

    • Over 90% of litigating local governments (by population) participated43.

  • Purpose and Use of Funds:

    • At least 85% of funds must be used for opioid abatement programs, including treatment, education, prevention, and harm reduction123.

    • The funds are intended to support communities affected by the opioid crisis.

  • Non-Financial Terms:

    • Distributors must create a centralized clearinghouse to monitor and report suspicious opioid orders, improving oversight and preventing diversion54.

    • No admission of wrongdoing by the companies13.

  • Effective Date:

    • April 2, 2022 was the scheduled effective date for the settlement, following court-ordered consent judgments4.

  • Exclusions:

    • Alabama, Oklahoma, and Washington chose not to participate in this settlement4.

    • West Virginia previously settled separately and was not part of this agreement4.

Broader Context

This settlement was part of a larger effort to resolve thousands of lawsuits brought by state and local governments against pharmaceutical companies for their alleged role in fueling the opioid crisis. The settlement with the three major distributors and Johnson & Johnson was valued at $26 billion, with the distributors responsible for $21 billion of that total123. The settlement was designed to provide a stable source of funding for opioid crisis abatement programs across the country.

Key Takeaways

  • Historic Settlement: The $21 billion (plus $5 billion from J&J) represents one of the largest civil settlements in U.S. history regarding public health.

  • Community Impact: The majority of funds are dedicated to opioid crisis response, treatment, and prevention.

  • Industry Oversight: The settlement mandates new transparency and monitoring requirements for opioid distribution.

  • No Admission of Liability: The companies did not admit wrongdoing, but agreed to pay to resolve litigation and support communities affected by the opioid epidemic13.

This settlement marked a significant milestone in efforts to address the opioid crisis through large-scale, coordinated legal action and funding for public health initiatives.

  1. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/johnson-johnson-drug-distributors-finalize-26b-opioid-settlement-states-join-landmark-deal
  2. https://www.npr.org/2021/07/21/1018881195/state-attorneys-general-26-billion-opioid-settlement
  3. https://www.npr.org/2022/02/25/1082901958/opioid-settlement-johnson-26-billion
  4. https://www.mckesson.com/about-mckesson/newsroom/press-releases/2022/distributors-approve-opioid-settlement-agreement/
  5. https://nationalopioidsettlement.com/executive-summary/
  6. https://www.opioidsettlementtracker.com/globalsettlementtracker
  7. https://www.npr.org/2022/02/25/1083180735/4-u-s-drug-distributors-agree-to-pay-26b-opioid-settlement
  8. https://kaco.org/county-information/opioid-settlement/
  9. https://nashp.org/understanding-opioid-settlement-spending-plans-across-states-key-components-and-approaches/
  10. https://www.drugwatch.com/opioids/lawsuits/
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CVS Closing 270 Stores Nationwide: List of Locations Impacted MORE PHARMACY DESERTS?

Posted on June 17, 2025 by Pharmaciststeve

Rite Aid is closing its last bankruptcy with selling off their last 1,000 stores. A few years back they had abt 5,000 stores. Walgreens it is reported that they are selling the entire chain off to some investment firm. 10-15 yrs ago Walgreens was worth 100 billion, but this deal is reported to be for 10 billion.  I would not be surprised to see the investment firm to close a lot of stores and/trying to consolidate various stores’ business into nearby Walgreen stores.  Just in the last year or so, Walgreens stated that they were going to 25% of their 8600 stores.

CVS Closing 270 Stores Nationwide: List of Locations Impacted

https://www.newsweek.com/cvs-closing-270-stores-locations-impacted-2077982

Amid its ongoing restructuring efforts, CVS plans on closing hundreds more stores in 2025, which the company says will streamline operations and help it adapt to shifting consumer needs.

Why Is CVS Closing Locations?

In its recent annual report, filed in February, CVS announced that it would be closing 271 retail stores in 2025 as part of its “enterprise-wide restructuring plan intended to streamline and simplify the organization.”

This follows the closure of around 900 locations between 2022 and 2024. A spokesperson for CVS told Newsweek that these closures will enable the company to optimize its “existing stores and pharmacies.”

The spokesperson said that the closures were based on several factors, including “population shifts, consumer buying patterns, store and pharmacy density, pharmacy care access, and community health needs.” This will enable the company to better meet customers’ needs and was not a response to industry pressures.

Where Are CVS Closing Locations?

CVS has not released a list of locations that will be closed amid this strategic realignment, and declined to provide any details of which states or cities may be affected.

However, according to consumer-focused website The Krazy Coupon Lady, citing local news sources, 34 CVS locations have either already closed or announced scheduled closures in 2025:

Alabama

  • 2901 Morgan Rd., Bessemer
  • 3303 Clairmont Ave., Birmingham

California

  • 499 Haight St., San Francisco
  • 1701 K St., Sacramento

Florida

  • 3090 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee
  • 13300 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando
  • 2201 Edgewater Dr., Orlando

Georgia

  • 439 Highland Blvd., Atlanta

Illinois

  • 8639 S. Cicero Ave., Chicago
  • 401 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago
  • 2000 Skokie Valley Rd., Highland Park

Iowa

  • 2420 Lincoln Way, Ames
  • 215 Euclid Ave., Des Moines

Massachusetts

  • 55 Summer St., Boston

Michigan

  • 28774 Gratiot Ave., Roseville
  • 27700 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores

Missouri

  • 2435 Independence Ave., Kansas City
  • 9433 Manchester Rd., Saint Louis
  • 4531 Troost Ave., Kansas City

New York

  • 955 Payne Ave., North Tonawanda
  • 153 Central Ave., Albany
  • 1026 Madison Ave., Albany
  • 1241 Lexington Ave., New York
  • 1654 Richmond Ave., Staten Island

North Carolina

  • 201 W. 4th St., Winston-Salem

Ohio

  • 10825 Kinsman Rd., Cleveland

Pennsylvania

  • 125 E. Main St., Plymouth

Virginia

  • 10390 Willard Way, Fairfax

Washington, D.C.

  • 1117 10th St. NW
  • 1100 4th St. SW
  • 400 Massachusetts Ave. NW
  • 1515 New York Ave. NE
  • 4500 Wisconsin Ave. NW
  • 7828 Georgia Ave. NW

Based on local news sources and social media, Newsweek identified additional CVS locations that have closed or announced closures since the beginning of the year:

Indiana

  • 9550 Allisonville Rd., Indianapolis

Maryland

  • 1000 S. Charles St., Federal Hill, Baltimore
  • 7235 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda
  • 34 N. Cannon Ave., Hagerstown, closing June 26, per The Herald-Mail

Texas

  • 3890 Phelan Blvd., Beaumont, per The Beaumont Enterprise

What People Are Saying

A spokesperson for CVS told Newsweek: “Store closure decisions are based on several factors, including population shifts, consumer buying patterns, store and pharmacy density, pharmacy care access, and community health needs. We’re focused on ensuring we have the right kinds of stores and the right number of stores in the right locations. We’re closing locations strategically to better meet consumers’ health, wellness and pharmacy care needs – as announced more than three years ago – not in reaction to industry pressures.”

“Even after the realignment work, 85% of people in the U.S. will still live within 10 miles of a CVS Pharmacy,” they added.

What Happens Next

CVS confirmed to Newsweek that, despite the closures, it intends to open 30 new pharmacy locations in 2025, including those inside Target stores.

Meanwhile, a new law signed by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders last month seeks to prevent Pharmacy Benefit Managers, third-party firms that manage prescription drug benefits, from owning pharmacies. CVS has warned that the legislation could impact its 23 locations in Arkansas.

 

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A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable

Posted on June 16, 2025 by Pharmaciststeve

“The moral test of a government is how it treats those who are at the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those who are in the shadow of life, the sick and the needy, and the handicapped.” – Hubert Humphrey,VP, Pharmacist

My son Andrew will never get married. He won’t have children. He won’t drive a car or experience many of the milestones we take for granted.
But he is happy. And he is healthy.
And to me, that’s everything.
When a stranger gives him a smile, it lights up my entire day.
When a girl glances at him kindly, joy rushes through his whole body like a wave of sunshine.
It doesn’t take much to be deeply, profoundly human.
Let me tell you a story.
At a party held at a school for children with special needs, one father stood up to speak.
What he said stayed with everyone who heard it.
After thanking the staff who worked with such devotion, he paused and shared a reflection:
“When nothing disturbs the balance of nature, the natural order reveals itself in perfect harmony.”
Then his voice began to tremble.
“But my son Herbert doesn’t learn like other children. He doesn’t understand like they do.
So tell me… where is the natural order in his life?”
The room fell completely silent.
Then he continued:
“I believe that when a child like Herbert is born—with a physical or cognitive disability—the world is given a rare and sacred opportunity:
To reveal the very core of the human spirit.
And that spirit is revealed not through perfection—but in how we treat those who need us most.”
He shared a moment he would never forget:
One afternoon, he and Herbert were walking past a field where some boys were playing soccer.
Herbert looked longingly at them and asked:
“Dad… do you think they’ll let me play?”
The father’s heart sank. He knew the answer was likely no.
But he also knew—if they said yes—it could give his son something far more valuable than a goal: a sense of belonging.
So he gently approached one of the boys and asked:
“Would it be okay if Herbert joined the game?”
The boy looked over at his teammates, hesitated, then smiled:
“We’re losing 3–0 and there’s ten minutes left… Sure. Let him take a penalty.”
Herbert lit up.
He ran to the bench, put on a jersey that nearly swallowed him whole, and beamed with pride. His father stood at the sidelines, tears in his eyes.
He didn’t play much. He just stood nearby, watching. But something in the boys shifted.
They began to see him—not as a distraction, but as one of them.
And then, in the final minute, a miracle happened.
Herbert’s team was awarded a penalty kick.
The same boy turned to the father and gave a knowing nod:
“It’s his shot.”
Herbert walked slowly to the ball, nervous but radiant.
The goalkeeper caught on. He made a show of diving to the side, giving the boy a clear shot.
Herbert nudged the ball gently forward.
It rolled across the goal line.
Goal.
The boys erupted in cheers. They hoisted Herbert into the air like he’d won the World Cup.
They didn’t just let him play.
They let him belong.
The father closed his speech with tears falling freely:
“That day, a group of boys made a decision… not to win, but to be human.
To show the world what kindness, dignity, and love really look like.”
Herbert passed away that winter.
He never saw another summer.
But he never forgot the day he was a hero.
And his father never forgot the night he came home, telling the story as his wife held Herbert close, weeping—not from sorrow, but from joy.
A final thought:
Every day, we scroll past distractions—memes, jokes, quick laughs.
But when something truly meaningful crosses our path, we hesitate.
We wonder: Who would understand this?
Who should I send this to?
If someone sent you this story, it’s because they believe you’re one of those people.
That you see the heart in others.
That you understand what really matters.
Because each day, the world gives us countless chances to choose decency over indifference.
As one wise man said:
“A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable.”
I stole this from post from Greg Martin. Oh my goodness I have chills throughout my whole body, I love this so freaking much.

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My Personal COVID-19 Vaccination Decision – dodging several potential “bullets”

Posted on June 14, 2025 by Pharmaciststeve

My Personal COVID-19 Vaccination Decision

When COVID-19 vaccines first became available, I made a deliberate choice for my family: we would not take the mRNA vaccines. In my opinion, these newer vaccines had insufficient research and clinical trial data behind them at the time.

However, there was a third option—the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine, which used viral vector technology that had been employed for decades in flu vaccine production. This established technology felt more familiar and trustworthy to me. We made sure to receive both doses of the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

What puzzled me later was something I rarely saw discussed publicly: when booster shots were rolled out, no J&J/Janssen boosters were made available. Only the two mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) were offered as boosters. This left us in a difficult position, and ultimately, we decided not to get any additional COVID-19 vaccinations.

Fortunately, neither my spouse nor I contracted COVID-19—or if we did, our symptoms were so mild that we didn’t notice them.

Looking back, I didn’t have concrete scientific evidence against the mRNA vaccines at that time. What guided my decision was something more intangible: my instincts, combined with over 50 years of clinical experience as a pharmacist, were telling me to “just say no” to the mRNA vaccine boosters.

Since then, I’ve encountered numerous reports of adverse reactions to these vaccines, ranging from unwelcome side effects to more serious complications. While I can’t definitively say my caution was justified, I remain comfortable with the decision we made based on the information available to us at the time

Urticaria Risk Associated With mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines

https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/urticaria-risk-associated-with-mrna-covid19-vaccines

In a nationwide observational cohort study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, researchers sought to examine the correlation between mRNA vaccinations for COVID-19 and the risk of developing urticaria.

The study focused on Danish residents who had received at least one dose of an mRNA vaccine between December 2020 and July 2023, comparing this group with the general population from the prepandemic years (2017–2019). Patients received either one dose of Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech; BNT) or the other FDA-approved COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (Moderna; MOD).

Participants without urticaria were observed from the vaccination date until one of the following occurred: a diagnosis of chronic or other types of urticaria; a COVID-19 infection; the end of the 90-day outcome risk period; death; emigration; or October 2023. The expected number of urticaria cases was estimated by indirectly standardizing the incidence rates of urticaria prior to the pandemic. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) along with their 95% CIs were calculated overall and within specific categories based on gender, age, and vaccine sequence.

The study encompassed 4,700,301 vaccinated individuals and 5,480,146 comparators from before the pandemic.

The results indicated that following vaccine product sequences, the SIRs (95% CI) were reported as 0.83 (0.71-0.96) for chronic urticaria and 1.14 (95% CI, 1.03-1.25) for other forms of urticaria.

Individuals following the recommended vaccine schedule for the MOD mRNA vaccine faced a three- to fourfold increase in the risk of chronic urticaria (SIR, 3.00; 95% CI, 2.27-3.88) and other urticaria types (SIR, 3.65; 95% CI, 3.06-4.31). Sensitivity analyses for dose-specific effects indicated a fourfold higher risk following the MOD vaccine sequence, while no increased risk was observed after the BNT vaccination.

The authors concluded, “Following the most recent mRNA vaccination dose, MOD vaccine schedule adherers had a higher than expected incidence of chronic and other types of urticaria. We found no association between BNT vaccination schedule and increased risk of urticaria.”

The content contained in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk.

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Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman killed, State Sen. John Hoffman hurt in ‘targeted’ attack

Posted on June 14, 2025 by Pharmaciststeve

I have said for years that we are on the cusp of a “civil war”, but this civil war will not be a simple “us vs them” as our Civil War of the mid 1800’s.  This one is going to be between “tribes”, “affinity groups”, and illegal immigrants from an untold number of countries on our planet.

Recently, Governor Josh Shapiro’s Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence was set on fire. Luckily, the Governor, his wife, and their FOUR CHILDREN were able to escape without any harm, but the first floor of the Residence was pretty trashed.

Now, an MN state Representative and his wife have been shot and killed, and a state Senator and his wife were shot/wounded. All happening at the victims’ homes.

RFK Jr wants to take the fluoride out of our water; maybe he should consider putting Lithium Carbonate in our water, it is classified as a mood stabilizer. In fact, Lithium Carbonate was discovered in an African tribe’s water supply, and none of the members of the tribe were dealing with any mental health issues.

HEARTBREAK: Just hours before Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman, 55, and her husband were brutally GUNNED DOWN in their Brooklyn Park home on June 14, 2025, she broke down in TEARS on camera, defending her COURAGEOUS vote with Republicans to cut healthcare for adult illegal immigrants! 😢 As the LONE Democrat to support the June 12 bill, Hortman declared, “I did what leaders do… I stepped up and I got the job done for the people of Minnesota.” Her bold stand to protect taxpayers infuriated open-border radicals, and now police confirm her murder was POLITICALLY MOTIVATED! The suspect, a white male posing as a cop, left “No Kings” flyers linked to anti-Trump protests and a manifesto targeting Hortman and other Dems.
President Trump called it a “heinous attack on democracy,” vowing AG Pam Bondi and the FBI will deliver SWIFT justice! 💪 X users are LIVID: @FinalTelegraph says, “She paid the ultimate price for doing what’s right,” while @stbythec demands Dems “stop inciting violence.” The killer’s still at large—Brooklyn Park’s on LOCKDOWN! Share to honor Hortman’s bravery and BACK Trump’s fight to crush political violence! 🇺🇸 #MAGA #JusticeForMelissa

https://abc7ny.com/post/2-minnesota-lawmakers-shot-grave-condition-apparent-targeted-incident-officials/16748810/

MINNESOTA — A Minnesota state representative and her husband were shot and killed, and a state senator and his wife were shot and wounded in an “act of targeted political violence” at their homes early Saturday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said.

A manhunt is now underway for the gunman who was impersonating a police officer, authorities said. The gunman attacked by knocking on the doors and asking the victims to come out, police said. 

State Rep. Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband were shot and killed in what appears to be a “politically-motivated assassination,” Walz said at a news conference.

“She was a formidable public servant,” the governor said of his friend. “She is irreplaceable.”

State Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife were both shot multiple times and underwent surgery, the governor said.

“We’re cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt,” Walz said.

The two shooting locations are a few miles away from each other in Champlin and Brooklyn Park, just north of Minneapolis.

Hoffman and his wife were shot around 2 a.m. in Champlin, Superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Drew Evans said.

After Hoffman was shot, officers were heading to pro-actively check on Hortman when they encountered the suspect at Hortman’s home around 3:35 a.m., Evans said.

The officers found a person who was dressed as a police officer — wearing a vest and a badge, and with a Taser and other equipment — at the door, coming out of Hortman’s house, police said.

The suspect fired at the officers; gunfire was exchanged and the suspect was able to escape and flee on foot, authorities said.

The suspect’s vehicle — which looked like a police vehicle, including police lights — was in Hortman’s driveway, authorities said.

A list of other possible targets was retrieved from the suspect’s vehicle, authorities said. Police said the list had “many lawmakers,” including the victims.

Security resources have been dispatched to protect those people named on the list, authorities said.

The gunman did say something to the victims, police said, but authorities did not reveal what that was.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said the agency is “fully engaged on the ground in Minnesota and is working in collaboration with our local and state partners.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said she’s “closely monitoring developments in Minnesota after what appears to be a targeted attack against state lawmakers.”

“This horrific violence will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” she said in a statement.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., called the victims close friends and said they’re “devoted to their families and public service.”

“This is a stunning act of violence. I’m thankful for all the law enforcement who are responding in real time,” she said. “My prayers are with the Hortman and Hoffman families.”

Hortman was the former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, formerly the Minnesota Democratic party chair, said he’s friends with both Hoffman and Hortman.

Martin wrote on social media that he’s “completely heartbroken” and “praying hard for both families.”

With the manhunt ongoing, police are urging community members to be cautious. Police warned, if an officer comes to your door, call 911 to confirm that the officer is supposed to be there.

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William Husel tearfully testifies about aftermath of hospital firing, investigation

Posted on June 12, 2025 by Pharmaciststeve

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/courts/2025/06/10/former-mount-carmel-doctor-william-husel-testifies-in-defamation-trial/84119853007/

Former doctor William Husel broke down on the witness stand during testimony in his defamation trial against his former employer as he told a jury about the day he learned he was charged with prescribing fatal doses of medicine to patients. 

The former Mount Carmel doctor began his testimony on June 9 and continued into Tuesday, June 10. It’s the first time he has testified in public about the care he provided to his patients while at Mount Carmel. 

The 49-year-old is suing Mount Carmel, its parent company, Trinity Health Corporation, and Mount Carmel’s former CEO, Ed Lamb, for defamation. He says public statements the hospital made about him related to his prescribing fatal doses of opioids to patients did irreparable damage to his reputation, career and personal life.

In a 2022 criminal trial, Husel was acquitted of wrongdoing in many instances. Prosecutors eventually dropped several remaining charges against him, but he had previously stated that he was only providing comfort care to suffering patients. 

Attorneys for the hospital spent part of their time questioning Husel, laying a foundation to establish that he had a history of accusations of over-prescribing medication to patients before his indictment.  

Husel, who paused to compose himself several times as he became emotional, told a jury about the impact Mount Carmel’s statements, beginning in January 2019, had on his life and the lives of his wife and their two daughters.

He said the first inkling he had that something might be wrong was on the evening before Mount Carmel’s first public statement. Husel testified a nurse called him and told him, “D-Day was coming, and it’s going to be really bad.” 

Husel said the following day, after the first medical malpractice suit was filed against him by a patient’s family and Mount Carmel’s public statement, he opened his Facebook account to find more than 1,000 messages, many of them hateful.

William Husel becomes emotional as he testifies about the day he learned he was indicted by a Franklin County grand jury. Husel is suing Mount Carmel, Trinity Health Corporation and former CEO Ed Lamb for defamation.

“They said I was a serial killer, that I should rot in prison, that I should be buried under the prison,” Husel said. 

While Husel did not address any of Mount Carmel’s statements specifically, he said he couldn’t comprehend why the families of patients he had cared for were suing him. 

“Why would I do CPR on someone, save their life and then an hour later intentionally kill them,” Husel said. 

Husel also described having reporters try to get a comment from him about the lawsuits and being pointed at or talked about when he went to restaurants or stores — something he says continues to happen to this day. 

Former doctor William Husel goes over a chart of patients he treated while at the Mount Carmel West intensive care unit. Husel is suing the hospital, its parent company and former CEO for defamation.

Husel told the jury that he and his wife, Mariah, live in her parent’s home, which he described as a “double-wide trailer” with two bedrooms and a bathroom. He said he does not work, while his wife is working full-time and working towards a Master’s degree, and he often sleeps on the floor.

Husel also testified about the day he learned a grand jury had indicted him on 25 counts of murder. He said he got a call from his attorney, who wouldn’t tell him what charges he was facing. Husel cried as he talked about watching his children taking a bath that night, knowing he would be turning himself in to police the next day.

“I started thinking I’m never going to see my kids again,” Husel said.

Eleven of the 25 murder charges were later dismissed. A Franklin County jury found Husel not guilty of the remaining 14 charges after a 2022 trial. A month after the trial’s conclusion, Husel voluntarily surrendered his medical license, which the Ohio Medical Board then permanently revoked.

Powell Miller, an attorney for the hospital system, began cross-examining Husel on June 10, asking him about findings the state medical board had made when suspending Husel’s license in 2019. Those findings, shown to the jury, include that Husel gave “inappropriate and excessive” doses of medication to multiple patients who died within minutes of receiving the doses of fentanyl.

Mount Carmel’s public statements said Husel’s dosing was “significantly excessive and potentially fatal.”

Cross-examination is expected to continue on June 10.

Prior to being questioned by the hospital system, Husel testified about the death of 82-year-old Melissa Penix, who died on the last night Husel worked in the ICU before the hospital placed him on leave.

“Why are you crying,” Husel’s attorney asked.

“Just because it was my last night at work there,” Husel said. “When I started thinking about the husband crying and not wanting to let her go, it makes me sad to think about that.”

Husel described wanting to make Penix comfortable and avoid suffocation, what her family said was her “greatest fear in life.” Husel ordered a 2,000 microgram dosage of fentanyl for Penix, who died five minutes later.

Former Mount Carmel doctor William Husel testifies on June 9 in his defamation trial against Mount Carmel, its parent company and former CEO.

Husel was fired in December 2018 amid concerns about the dosages of fentanyl he was prescribing for patients taken off life support. 

Husel is seeking $18 million in damages, which his attorneys have said is an estimate of the amount of money Husel would have made as a doctor.

 

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Iowa Gov. Reynolds signs bill to reform pharmacy benefit managers

Posted on June 12, 2025 by Pharmaciststeve

 

https://who13.com/news/iowa-gov-reynolds-signs-bill-to-reform-pharmacy-benefit-managers/

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill Wednesday aimed at bringing changes to pharmacy benefit managers, also known as PBMs.

The legislation, Senate File 383, aims to help prevent more independent and rural pharmacies from closing their doors in the Hawkeye State.

PBMs are the middlemen between health insurance companies and pharmacies. Whenever you fill a prescription, the PBM determines how much the pharmacy actually gets paid for dispensing your medication.

In recent years, that amount has sometimes been less than what it costs the pharmacy to fill a prescription, forcing them to either refuse the fill, or take a financial loss.

Senate File 383 would attempt to prevent that by adding requirements for how much pharmacies must be reimbursed for filling medications, to ensure they get paid a fair price.

It also adds other patient protections, like preventing PBMs from hitting you with a monetary penalty if you choose a non-preferred pharmacy, or requiring you to use a mail-order pharmacy service to use your insurance coverage.

As of Wednesday, a total of 32 states have passed similar legislation, according to the Iowa Governor’s Office.

Opponents of the measure have argued the bill would increase health insurance premiums, but supporters maintain that in states that have previously passed similar legislation, that has not come to pass.

Governor Reynolds released a statement Wednesday explaining her reasoning for signing the bill. In part, it says, “The new bill takes steps toward addressing these challenges by targeting PBM practices that harm both patients and independent pharmacies. Local pharmacies, especially in rural areas, are vital to community health and local hospitals but are being driven out by opaque, one-sided contracts.”

You can read the governor’s full statement here.

The Iowa Pharmacy Association applauded the bill’s passage Wednesday. CEO Kate Gainer said, “Governor Reynolds’ leadership and the Iowa Legislature’s bipartisan support of SF 383 sends a powerful message that the health of Iowa communities comes first. For too long, PBMs have put profits over patients, contributing to the closure of more than 200 pharmacies in Iowa since 2014. This law gives us the tools to level the playing field and protect access to care, especially in rural areas.”

The Iowa Association of Business and Industry, however, opposed the bill’s signing, releasing a statement saying, “ABI is disappointed in today’s action. ABI testified at every turn in favor of legislation that would support small independent pharmacies in Iowa. The bill that the Governor signed today is not that. Senate File 383 includes expensive, unneeded provisions that are going to drive up the costs of pharmacy services in Iowa without any discernable improvement in patient care. Iowans – including businesses and employees – will bear these costs at the pharmacy counter and in the structure of their health care plans. This is an additional headwind in an already challenging business environment. Now law, ABI will take every opportunity to mitigate the increased costs on our members and their team members throughout Iowa.”

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