With Rite Aid closing all its remaining locations, residents across the Coachella Valley—and especially in the High Desert—are left in a difficult position when it comes to their prescription needs. Lindsey Valenzuela from Desert Oasis Healthcare (DOHC) joined NBC Palm Springs to break down the impact and offer guidance to those affected.
Rite Aid has faced multiple rounds of bankruptcy over the past year, and the effects are hitting rural communities particularly hard. “In 29 Palms, there are only two pharmacies. One of them is Rite Aid—and that one is closing,” Valenzuela said. Rite Aid had been the preferred pharmacy for many Desert Oasis Healthcare members, offering lower or no co-pays.
Some prescriptions will be automatically transferred—but not always conveniently. For instance, Rite Aid in Yucca Valley is transferring prescriptions to Vons across the street. However, in 29 Palms, prescriptions are being transferred to the Cathedral City Rite Aid—more than 70 miles away—and that location is also scheduled to close soon.
Valenzuela’s advice is clear: be proactive. “Call your Rite Aid, find out when they’re closing, and then select a new pharmacy,” she said. DOHC has created a public resource at mydohc.com, offering a full list of nearby pharmacies in the High Desert along with their hours and benefits.
Unfortunately, many of those pharmacies are already overwhelmed. “The remaining pharmacy in 29 Palms has already said it will struggle to absorb the influx of prescriptions,” Valenzuela explained. While the Lower Desert has more options like Walgreens, CVS, and Costco, rural communities could face a significant gap in service.
Her final advice: once you’ve selected a new pharmacy, call them directly and ask them to initiate the prescription transfer from Rite Aid before it shuts down.
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By: Fred Roggin
June 13, 2025
