Letter: CVS Pharmacy Grant & Rosemont

On April 19, 2024, in Tucson, Arizona, amidst 95-degree weather, an 88-year-old woman, speaking primarily Russian, arrived at our office on her motorized scooter, seeking assistance. Believing her prescribed insulin was forgotten by CVS Pharmacy, she asked for help contacting them. Despite futile attempts, I drove her to the pharmacy out of concern. Upon arrival, we discovered no available wheelchair or scooter. Assisting her inside, we learned her insurance didn't cover the insulin, priced at $300. While negotiating with the pharmacy and her doctor's office for a generic alternative, we faced indifference from the staff, closing for lunch despite the urgent situation. Despite pleas, they prioritized their break over helping the elderly woman, insisting on their lunch break. Threatened with a negative review, they remained unmoved, closing the shutters. The incident underscores the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals in accessing essential healthcare services, highlighting the need for compassion and understanding in such situations.