Are online pharmacies cheaper than your local -2-

The ubiquity and proximity of CVS and Walgreens stores across the country make chain pharmacies convenient for many Americans - and the companies say they are evolving to both integrate and complement digital pharmacy tools.

For CVS, that looks like a sophisticated website and app; the option to choose between in-person pickup or delivery; and in-store services such as vaccinations. CVS has also offered its in-store clinic, MinuteClinic, for more than two decades, according to company spokesperson Christina Beckerman.

"We have continued to prioritize our community presence, even with the emergence of new online-only pharmacies and as many other community pharmacies have closed," Beckerman said in an email.

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Walgreens touts its digital access, drive-through convenience and delivery service, and says the relationships between its pharmacists and patients are what set the company apart.

"Every prescription connects patients to a pharmacist who provides personalized support, answers questions and helps navigate complex medication needs," Rina Shah, Walgreens's senior vice president of pharmacy modernization and growth, said in an emailed statement. "We continue to innovate our patient offerings to meet the needs of our patients, building on the relationship between our patients and pharmacy teams."

While corporate pharmacies hold considerable market share and might be more compatible with your insurance, independent community pharmacies can sometimes offer more flexibility on price - especially if you're paying in cash.

"[Independent pharmacists] own the pharmacy. So if they say, 'I'm going to price match,' or 'I'm going to change this price from selling it for $25; I'm going to sell it for $24,' they can make that decision," Hoey said. "Whereas most chain pharmacists, they probably get in trouble if they did something other than what a computer told them to do."

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Independent pharmacies have also been investing in delivery and in-person health services such as blood-pressure checks and vaccinations for long-term-care facilities, in an effort to remain competitive as the pharmacy industry evolves. But where community pharmacies really shine is in their relationships with patients, advocates say.

"We see what the needs are for our patients. And these are neighbors - people that we drop our kids off at the same time at school or go to worship [with]," Hoey said. "So when those people come into our pharmacies and have a need, we're like, 'Well, how do we solve that for them?'"

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