Community pharmacies located in stores like Walmart or Kmart fall under which category?

Community pharmacies that are located within larger retail environments, such as Walmart or Kmart, are classified as mass merchandiser pharmacies. This categorization stems from their operational model, which integrates pharmacy services into a broader retail context, allowing these pharmacies to benefit from high foot traffic and bulk purchasing abilities associated with large retail chains.

Mass merchandiser pharmacies focus on providing a wide range of services and products beyond prescription medications, including over-the-counter drugs, health and wellness items, and sometimes additional health services. This approach is designed to offer convenience to consumers by placing the pharmacy within the same shopping environment where they purchase groceries and other everyday items, thereby catering to a one-stop shopping experience.

In contrast, independent pharmacies operate independently of large retail chains and often focus on personalized service and specific community needs. Home health pharmacies focus on providing medications and services for patients requiring home-based care, and pharmacy benefit managers are organizations that manage drug benefit programs, negotiating pricing and access to medications for plan sponsors and beneficiaries. These distinctions clarify why mass merchandiser pharmacies are the appropriate classification for community pharmacies situated within larger retail stores.