Photo submitted by Rhonda Silence

January 30, 2020

There have been many changes in the pharmacy situation in Grand Marais in the last year. With the closure of Arrowhead Pharmacy in April 2019, the Grand Marais Pharmacy became the only place to purchase prescription drugs.

Grand Marais Pharmacy was overwhelmed with the increase in business and a representative spoke with WTIP in June 2019. Listen to that interview here.

The local pharmacy continues to work to improve service for patients, including working with insurance companies. That has been complicated by the fact that Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Medicare no longer include Grand Marais Pharmacy as a “preferred provider.”

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence sat down with pharmacist Leslie Condon to talk about the impact to local customers from this change in pharmacy status—and what patients can do to try to change the situation.

There are also changes being made at our local medical facilities. North Shore Health is no longer using Grand Marais Pharmacy as its drug provider for hospital and care center patients. And Sawtooth Mountain Clinic is planning to open a pharmacy of its own at the clinic in January 2021. Learn more about that here. 

Follow this link to WTIP's site for the full interview:

https://www.wtip.org/grand-marais-pharmacy-explains-non-preferred-provider-status