CVS

Some 25,000 Americans depend on IVs containing life-sustaining nutrition. Hurricane Helene wrecked a factory in North Carolina that produced 60% of the fluids. Then, CVS closed its infusion business. Shortages and rationing ensued.

Drug and staffing shortages remain, and stores are dealing with a new vaccine and insurance coverage for COVID shots. Some have addressed challenges, but customers can expert slower service and lines.

The nonprofit community health organization is available for patients who used CVS and need to transfer their prescription to another pharmacy.

Pharmacy closures by two of the biggest home infusion companies point to grave shortages and dangers for patients who require IV nutrition to survive.

Walgreens will limit online orders of children's fever and pain medicine to six items "to help support availability and avoid excess purchases." At CVS stores, purchases will be limited to two.

CVS would pay about $5 billion and Walgreens more than $5.5 billion, though neither company has admitted wrongdoing. States have until the end of the year to accept the terms of the settlement.

It could amount to the last round of huge settlements after years of litigation over the industry's role in an overdose crisis linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. over the past two decades.

The policy started the first week in July in Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, and Texas. CVS is asking care providers to help by including a diagnosis on the prescription.

The settlements left Walgreens as the sole defendant in a lawsuit that targeted businesses involved in all aspects of the opioid industry. A Pasco County judge is scheduled to begin jury selection next week.

The closures will begin in the spring of 2022, according to a CVS release.

The company hires additional employees every year to help out with flu season, but the demand is even higher with COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and booster shots.

Across the state, rates for the vaccines required for children to enter classrooms and child care are down. That could be a problem for families that opted to wait because of COVID-19.