Bloomington-based HealthPartners on Wednesday announced plans to close its retail pharmacies in early 2020. About 300 people will be laid off as a result, including about 100 pharmacists.
The closure includes 30 retail pharmacies located within HealthPartners, Park Nicollet, Central Minnesota and Stillwater Medical Group clinics, as well as the organization’s owned mail-order pharmacy operations, the company said in a news release.
The Park Nicollet, Central Minnesota and Stillwater clinic pharmacies will close Jan. 20. HealthPartners retail clinic pharmacy locations will close April 1.
“Consumer preferences and pharmacy economics have changed … to favor large-scale organizations able to support extended hours, drive-through pickup, and other conveniences we’re not able to offer,” said Scott Schnuckle, senior vice president, pharmacy and business development,” said in a statement.
The organization said its health plan will continue to offer members a broad range of convenient pharmacy options within its network, including mail-order options.
HealthPartners, an insurer and hospital operator, combined in 2012 with Park Nicollet in the west metro, having at the time more than 20,000 employees and about 1,500 multispecialty physicians.
HealthPartners said Wednesday it will continue to operate its specialty, infusion and hospital pharmacies, as well as health plan pharmacy management and medication therapy management services.
