About one-third of U.S. communities lacked a preferred pharmacy in Medicare Part D plans in 2024, with rural areas facing the greatest access gaps, according to a July 22 study published in The American Journal of Managed Care.
Researchers analyzed preferred pharmacy networks in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans from 2010 to 2024 and found 31.8% of ZIP Code Tabulation Areas lacked a preferred pharmacy within 5 miles in urban areas or 15 miles in rural areas.
Here are four things to know:
- Among communities with preferred pharmacies, the average additional travel distance versus a nonpreferred pharmacy was 0.64 miles in stand-alone Part D plans, while average savings totaled $5.09.
- Rural ZIP Code Tabulation Areas were associated with an additional 0.734 miles of travel in stand-alone Part D plans and 0.320 miles in Medicare Advantage plans after adjusting for socioeconomic factors.
- The largest access gaps were concentrated in the West North Central, Mountain and East South Central census divisions.
- Researchers said preferred pharmacy networks expanded between 2010 and 2024, particularly in Medicare Advantage plans, but geographic disparities in access persisted, especially in rural communities.
