OHIO — On Sunday, Oct. 15, Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It is one of the nation's largest retail drugstore chains, with a significant presence in Ohio.  

What You Need To Know

  • Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy protection

  • There are nearly 200 Rite Aid stores across Ohio

  • Closures of some Rite Aid stores are expected

Rite Aid has had to deal with multiple lawsuits as a result of allegedly filling illegal prescriptions for opioids.  

In a news release, Rite Aid said, "the company will continue assessing its footprint and close additional underperforming stores." Rite Aid stated that it has received a commitment for $3.45 billion in new financing from lenders. The company also announced it has appointed a new CEO: Jeffrey Stein. 

Spectrum News spoke with Jeff Bates, Dean of Cedarville University's School of Pharmacy. He emphasized that pharmacies are a primary health care access point for many communities that could be affected by store closures. 

"That can often result in families, underserved individuals, minority populations, and even some of those who have serious socioeconomic challenges, struggling to be able to access the care that they create," said Bates. 

Click on the video box above to hear the full interview.