With Medicare’s Annual Election Period (AEP) set to begin Oct. 15,
Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG) today announced it has more than
doubled its preferred network relationships with national Medicare Part
D plan sponsors for 2015 and will be a part of preferred networks for
nine plan sponsors. The networks are designed to offer greater access to
pharmacy services and cost savings opportunities.
“The Medicare population is growing rapidly, and by working closely with
plan sponsors as a part of preferred pharmacy networks, we’re uniquely
positioned to help meet the prescription drug needs of America’s seniors
and other Medicare beneficiaries,” said Kermit Crawford, Walgreens
president of pharmacy, health and wellness. “With a higher prevalence of
chronic disease in the U.S., along with the aging population, our
pharmacists are playing an important role in health care, providing
personalized care to help customers get, stay and live well.”
Newly Announced for 2015
Walgreens will have preferred network relationships with six new
Medicare Part D plan sponsors and PBMs who support them for 2015,
including Express
Scripts, which features Walgreens as the only national pharmacy
chain in two of its prescription drug plans.
Other new preferred network relationships for 2015 include:
Renewed Preferred Networks
Walgreens will continue to be a part of preferred pharmacy networks with
three national Medicare Part D plan sponsors:
Walgreens is in the networks of hundreds of other Medicare prescription
drug plans for 2015, in addition to participating in these preferred
pharmacy networks. To help Medicare beneficiaries understand their
prescription plan coverage options when Medicare open enrollment begins,
Walgreens serves as one of the most convenient and accessible resources
for Medicare Part D information, offering free, personalized plan
comparison reports online and at every location, every day, to help
beneficiaries evaluate the plans that may best meet their prescription
drug needs. For more information, visit www.walgreens.com/medicare.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2014 sales of $76
billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com)
vision is to be America’s most loved pharmacy-led health, wellbeing and
beauty enterprise. Each day, in communities across America, more than 8
million customers interact with Walgreens using the most convenient,
multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted,
cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice.
Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty,
infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with online and
mobile 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 8,207 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens digital
business includes Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com,
SkinStore.com and VisionDirect.com. Walgreens also manages more than 400
Healthcare Clinic and provider practice locations around the country.
Copyright Business Wire 2014