MAINLINE PHARMACY TO CLOSE 9 STORES

A chain of local pharmacies will close several of its stores, including one in Westmoreland County and one in Indiana County. The Trib live reports that Mainline Pharmacy is closing nine of its stores. The company is among area independent pharmacies that say payments they receive for many prescription drugs as determined by pharmacy benefit managers, are far less than the cost of the medicine. According to information posted on Mainline’s Facebook page, it experienced resulting losses of more than $350,000 on about 17,500 prescriptions filled so far this year, making continued operation of the nine stores unsustainable. Stores in Harrison City and in Blairsville will be affected by the closures, with Harrison City’s last day being March 4th and Blairsville’s March 11th. Mainline will forward all prescription information to the nearest Rite Aid pharmacy.