Mendoza releases $946,000 in payments to critical access pharmacies

The state is releasing nearly $1 million to critical access pharmacies, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced Friday.

The $946,000 in payments are targeting facilities in medically underserved areas of the state.

“Our ongoing effort to support rural pharmacies that are being squeezed out by unfair competition and managed care policies now takes on added importance as communities fight the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus,” Mendoza said in a statement.

Garth Reynolds, executive director of the Illinois Pharmacists Association, said the funds will help keep the doors open at these pharmacies during the pandemic.

This is the third disbursement to critical access pharmacies under the program, according to the comptroller’s office. Mendoza’s office released $4.7 million in payments on July 1 and $1.9 million on Dec. 10.

The funds come from revenue generated from statewide cannabis sales.

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