As newly insured Americans begin using their benefits under the
Affordable Care Act, Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG) will provide
medications to those patients who may have difficulty using their new
insurance coverage because they haven't received a plan identification
number yet from their insurer. In those situations, through the end of
January, patients can bring confirmation of their enrollment in the
public health insurance marketplace to a Walgreens pharmacy, or the
pharmacy staff can check to verify eligibility, and Walgreens will
assist them by providing up to a month of a traditional1,
brand and generic medication at no upfront cost.
“We understand that all the changes that come with health care reform
may create some questions for newly enrolled individuals,” said Kermit
Crawford, president of pharmacy, health and wellness for Walgreens. “We
are deeply committed to helping these patients get, stay and live well
by helping them to get their medications without interruption.”
The announcement is one of several measures Walgreens is taking to help
achieve the smoothest possible transition for those insured as a result
of the Affordable Care Act.
Walgreens is reaching out to insurance companies’ operations groups to
request nightly eligibility file updates on health insurance marketplace
plan enrollees to help ensure Walgreens pharmacy teams have the most
up-to-date coverage information. Walgreens is also encouraging patients
who enrolled through the public marketplace to confirm coverage with
their insurance company and bring to the pharmacy current benefit
information. With that benefit information, Walgreens pharmacy staff
will individually review patient benefits and work with the patient’s
insurance company directly to confirm benefit eligibility.
To assist newly insured patients, Walgreens is working with United
States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , National Association of Chain Drug
Stores (NACDS) and the White House and will remain in frequent
conversation to raise any common issues that may arise.
Walgreens is uniquely positioned to support newly insured Americans,
improve health care delivery and help meet the needs of patients, payers
and the health care system at large through its health care assets and
expansive retail footprint. Walgreens offers more than 8,100 points of
care conveniently accessible within three miles of 63 percent of the
population, and two-thirds of Walgreens stores serve medically
underserved areas throughout the U.S.
1 Traditional prescription excludes complex therapy
medications.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2013 sales of $72
billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com)
vision is to be the first choice in health and daily living for everyone
in America, and beyond. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million
customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and
services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness
services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of
pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility
and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services
improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers,
managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers
and the public sector. The company operates 8,197 drugstores in all 50
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the
largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness
centers, provider practices, and in-store convenient care clinics, with
more than 750 locations throughout the country.
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in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements
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performance and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including,
but not limited to, those described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of our
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by
reference, and in other documents that we file or furnish with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or
uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or
anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the
extent required by law, Walgreens does not undertake, and expressly
disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking
statement after the initial distribution of this release, whether as a
result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or
otherwise.
Copyright Business Wire 2013