Pharmacy Deserts in Mississippi: What They Are and Why Fairview Matters

What a pharmacy desert is

There is no single technical definition, but most public health researchers describe a pharmacy desert as an area where the nearest pharmacy is more than a short drive, where transportation barriers prevent regular access, or where the only available pharmacy has limited hours or services. In rural Mississippi, this can mean a 30 to 60 minute drive in each direction to fill a prescription.

Why pharmacies are closing

Several factors are driving independent pharmacy closures across Mississippi and the rural United States.

• Pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reimbursement that often falls below the pharmacy’s cost to acquire the medication.
• Direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees that claw back reimbursement months after the prescription was filled.
• Volume pressure that favors chain pharmacies with mail order operations.
• Workforce challenges in rural areas.
• Generational transition challenges as long time independent owners retire.
• Increasing operational costs including software, compliance, and staffing.

These pressures have driven closures of independent pharmacies in small towns across Mississippi, in some cases leaving entire counties without a pharmacy within a reasonable drive.

What patients in pharmacy deserts face

• Driving long distances for refills, particularly hard for older adults and patients without reliable transportation.
• Mail order pharmacy delays that affect chronic medication continuity.
• Reduced access to in person counseling and pharmacist guidance.
• Loss of the relationship with a community pharmacist who knew the patient and the family.
• Delays in addressing prior authorization, refill, or insurance problems.
• Reduced access to vaccinations and screening services that pharmacies typically provide.

What independent pharmacies still provide where they exist

Mississippi still has a network of independent pharmacies, including Fairview, that serve their communities in ways the closures have disrupted.

• Same day prescription fills with pharmacist counseling.
• Local delivery for patients who cannot easily come in.
• Statewide shipping for residents outside the immediate delivery area.
• Medication synchronization and adherence programs.
• Compounding for specific patient needs.
• Direct relationships with local prescribers.
• Vaccinations including flu, COVID, pneumococcal, shingles, RSV, and others.
• Free medication reviews and consultations.
• Long term relationships across generations of a family.

How Fairview serves patients outside Hattiesburg

Fairview Pharmacy fills prescriptions for residents anywhere in Mississippi. Patients in counties without a nearby pharmacy can use Fairview by:

• Transferring their prescriptions to us by phone or online.
• Having medications shipped within Mississippi.
• Calling for refills, prior authorization help, or medication questions without driving in.
• Receiving the same pharmacist consultations as our local patients, by phone.
• Coordinating with their local prescribers from anywhere.

What patients can do

• If you are in a pharmacy desert, identify an independent pharmacy in the nearest accessible area that ships statewide.
• Set up med sync so you only have to coordinate refills once a month.
• Set up automatic delivery or shipping if available.
• Build a 7 to 14 day buffer of essential medications.
• Keep your medication list current and accessible.
• Use telehealth for prescribing visits when in person care is hard to access.
• Contact your state and federal representatives about PBM reform and pharmacy access policy. Pharmacy deserts are a policy outcome and they can be changed by policy.

The wider picture

Mississippi has been losing independent pharmacies at a pace that affects access for tens of thousands of residents. The trend is not inevitable. State and federal policy on PBM transparency, DIR fees, and reimbursement reform directly affects whether community pharmacies can stay open. Patients who care about access in rural Mississippi can do two things: use independent pharmacies that still exist, and engage with the policy decisions that determine whether more close.

When to talk to a pharmacist

• You live in an area where the nearest pharmacy is closing or has closed.
• You drive more than 30 minutes to fill prescriptions.
• You currently use mail order and are not satisfied.
• You are an older adult or caregiver coordinating prescriptions across distance.
• You have been considering switching pharmacies but did not know where to start.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Before starting or changing any medication, including over the counter products and supplements, talk with your pharmacist or physician about your specific situation.