-90-Day Supplies at Retail Locations Brings Significant Benefits to
Patients and Dramatically Improves Convenience and Adherence to
Medication-
- Ultimately Lowers Costs and Improves Patient Health and Well Being -
Aug. 3, 2010 (Business Wire) -- Walgreens (NYSE:WAG) (NASDAQ:WAG) today announced it is launching an initiative promoting a 90-day prescription program at its community retail pharmacies in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Through this program, eligible patients in Minneapolis will be able to receive certain medications in 90-day supplies from their local Walgreens pharmacy and their trusted community pharmacist, as an alternative to delivery from a mail-order pharmacy. Access to a local, trusted pharmacist is an important consideration for patients within Minneapolis, which is one of three communities across the country where Walgreens is focusing its effort.
The 90-Day at Retail program is being promoted in response to increasing demand from patients for more choice when it comes to their pharmacy options. According to recent Walgreens research, nearly four out of five patients stated that they prefer receiving their 90-day prescription at a retail pharmacy rather than by mail. Starting today, Walgreens pharmacists will begin reaching out to physicians and eligible patients in Minneapolis to educate them on the benefits of a 90-day prescription program.
To support the program, Walgreens pharmacists within Minneapolis have been trained to assist patients with their medication choices and to work in conjunction with local physicians and prescribers to ensure any needed changes to prescriptions are completed, and even directly handle the requirements for patients switching to 90 day. The pharmacists also are trained to educate patients on the importance of their drug regimen in treating their illness or condition and help them identify potential problems caused from drug interactions, allergies, and any other issues based on their knowledge of that individual’s medication and health history.
The Walgreens 90-Day at Retail program offers additional patient choice and better health outcomes for them. Research has shown that regular interaction with their local pharmacist leads patients to be more compliant with their medications and have a better understanding of the importance of taking their prescriptions as directed. The program can also result in significant cost savings to the health care system based on lower prescription dispensing costs, improved adherence, and lower ongoing chronic treatment costs.
“We know that patients want choice and access when it comes to their pharmacy options, and that when given the choice, some patients prefer the convenience and comfort of receiving their regular, chronic medications at their local pharmacy over mail programs,” said Brad Wasson, Walgreens vice president of pharmacy operations. “In a health care environment where patients are increasingly looking for alternatives that make sense for their health, Walgreens is committed to developing programs that reduce overall costs to the system, improve patient outcomes and enhance patient choice. That is why we are launching our promotion of 90-Day at Retail in Minneapolis.”
Studies also show that patients who receive a 90-day supply for their chronic medications have significantly higher adherence rates. In fact, for many chronic care conditions, Walgreens has seen an approximately 15 percent increase in adherence to medications for patients receiving a 90-day retail prescription versus those receiving a 30-day supply. Non-adherence to medications currently accounts for approximately $100 billion a year of national health care spending through unnecessary hospitalizations as a result of untreated health conditions.
“Better adherence can lead to better health for patients, and ultimately reduces costs,” said Wasson. “We have seen time and time again that our trusted pharmacists deliver the counseling and coaching needed to ensure patients properly take their prescriptions. The power of these face–to-face interactions is a key advantage of the 90-Day at Retail initiative.”
In addition to its pharmacy staff’s commitment mentioned above, Walgreens is also promoting the 90-day program in Minneapolis through direct mailings to the medical community, an advertising campaign, phone outreach efforts and letters to executives of major local businesses discussing the benefits of 90-day prescription refill programs at retail pharmacies.
To learn more about the Walgreens 90-Day at Retail program patients are encouraged to ask their local Walgreens pharmacist for details.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2009 sales of $63 billion. The company operates 7,541 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 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, long-term care and mail service, along with pharmacy benefit solutions and 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. Walgreens Take Care Health Systems subsidiary is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
