Fort Hill Pharmacy, a locally-owned pharmacy in Groton, is closing its doors for good Wednesday.
The pharmacy dates back to 1960.
Pharmacy Manager Phani Daggubati has co-owned Fort Hill Pharmacy, at 116 Fort Hill Road, for three years and said it’s getting increasingly hard to be in business right now with declining reimbursements from insurance companies. Plus, new Direct and Indirect Remuneration (DIR) fees have him shelling out close to $60,000 to $70,000.
He has the loan for the store, which he said is steep.
“We’re in a position where we can’t run it. So what can we do,” Daggubati said.
CVS acquired Fort Hill’s business, and customer files are being sent to the nearby CVS Pharmacy on Poquonnock Road. Daggubati said the company promises to maintain the home delivery and blister pack services. And the pharmacy is open 24-hours.
Customers have the option to move their prescriptions elsewhere.
“It’s been a pleasure serving everyone in the area and I want everyone to know we did our best,” Daggubati said, thanking his customers. He knows most of them by name.
All customers are being notified of the pharmacy closure by mail. When they call about a prescription, they’re also getting a heads up and if they call after the store closes, all calls will be rerouted to CVS pharmacy, according to Daggubati.
Several pharmacy staff will be there, too, like Pharmacy Technician Shannon Moriarti who’s worked at Fort Hill Pharmacy for 23 years. She said at least she’ll still see familiar faces.
“Which will be nice. It’ll definitely make it a little easier for all of us,” Moriarti said.
“CVS Pharmacy and Fort Hill Pharmacy are working together to ensure that the transition will be seamless for patients and that their access to pharmacy care is not interrupted. Pharmacy services offered by Fort Hill Pharmacy, such as free delivery, will be offered at CVS Pharmacy. CVS Pharmacy has hired several Fort Hill Pharmacy employees so patients will continue to see familiar faces behind the pharmacy counter,” CVS said in a statement.
Rebecca Lentner and her husband said they’ve been coming to Fort Hill Pharmacy for 40 years.
“It’s very disappointing and sad,” Lentner said of the closure.
“They’ve been taking good care of me. I really appreciate that,” said Yoneko Akaishi, who hugged and blew kisses at employees as she walked out the door, prescription in hand, for the last time.
CVS Pharmacy said it offers clinical pharmacy services, medication adherence programs, automatic refills to help patients take their medications on time and as directed, immunizations, text alerts to inform patients when their prescriptions are ready, and digital tools to help patients manage their prescriptions.
