By Sarah Richardson
After four decades of dedicated service to Greenbrier County and the surrounding areas, Fritz’s Pharmacy has announced that they will officially close their doors on Thursday, July 31.
Owner and pharmacist Fritz Glasser explained the reason for the closure in a letter to his customers, stating, “I want to personally thank you and everyone else in Greenbrier and the surrounding counties that supported Fritz’s Pharmacies for the past 40 years. I feel that God has blessed me with the opportunity, the guidance, and great and dedicated employees… all of which I will be forever grateful.”
Fritz cited the evolving nature of the healthcare industry and rising financial challenges as the reasons behind the difficult decision. “Healthcare has changed. The pharmacy business has become a commodity, not a service,” he said. “Humana, Aetna, and a few other Medicare D providers have made it financially impossible for a small town pharmacy.”
He explained that his pharmacy has “lost money on approximately 20% of our prescriptions (up to $40 on inhalers and insulins), we have been reimbursed less than $1 on another 20%, less than $2 on another 20%, less than $5 on another 20%, and on the last 20% we do make $10 profit (mostly WV Medicaid).”
“It has been a difficult and painful decision to make,” said Fritz.
Fritz’s Pharmacy will continue filling prescriptions through Wednesday, July 31, with services ceasing permanently afterward. Starting Friday, Aug. 1, prescription records and remaining inventory will be transferred to Greenbrier Medical Arts Pharmacy (GMAP) in Fairlea, where services will resume on Monday, Aug. 4.
To ensure continuity of care, Leatherman has worked closely with GMAP to support a smooth transition. Rick Leatherman, RPh, who began his pharmacy career at Fritz’s after graduating from WVU in the mid-1990s, will continue serving patients with the same level of hometown care. In addition, Fritz’s longtime pharmacy staff, Jake and Priscilla, will be joining the GMAP team to help maintain familiar faces and reliable service.
Patients are encouraged to call 304-647-5121 with any questions and to coordinate prescription pickups or inquire about delivery services offered by Greenbrier Medical Arts Pharmacy.
