This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
I recently learned in the news about the dispute between Walgreens and Express Scripts. Express Scripts serves as a prescription drug “middle man” between employers and insurance companies that pay for medications, and the pharmacies who provide health care and distribute medications. Walgreens issue with Express Scripts is that they wanted absolute control over the contract terms. This included defining which drugs were a brand or generic, drug reimbursement rates, and more. Since Walgreens did not agree, Express Scripts decided to no longer work with Walgreens or Duane Reade. For those who use Walgreens for prescription drugs, this is a huge issue! Patients will have to find new pharmacies, which could not be as a local or personable as the Walgreens they’ve gone to previously.
Walgreens believes this is unfair unfair especially to their customers and the patients they assist. Walgreens has decided to run a January promotion for customers by reducing the prices of the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club. The club will generously reduce the prices to $5 for an individual, or $10 for a family. Club membership is regularly $20 for an individual, or $35 for a family. Members will receive significant savings on more than 8.000 brand name and all generic medications! Walgreens is also offering discounts on more than 400 generic 3-month supply medications. Patients will pay less than $1 a week! All these great savings will help Walgreens’ customers out immensely, especially with the 3-month supply medications. It is believe that the discounted 3-month supply medications is what caused tension with Express Scripts. Express Scripts offers their own 3-month supply medications, in which they probably saw Walgreens as a direct competitor.
Connect with Walgreens on Facebook and Walgreens on Twitter to keep up to date on the latest happenings with this issue.
You can learn the full story at Walgreens and Express Script.
Sometimes I just do not understand how these companies operate. Apparently Walgreens seem’s to be the only one that has not forgotten about the direct consumer. The patient who needs the meds. I am glad they put the consumer first.
We have ES through hubby’s work and HATE them… I miss Caremark :\ When I found out about the Walgreens thing late last year I just laughed. It didn’t surprise me one bit. I don’t use Walgreens (out of convenience, I used to, though) or I would have done more than laugh.
I just read about this on another blog. I think that people need to make Express Scripts understand that if they are sick or hurt they don’t want to wait for the shipment of their medications from some warehouse. They need them as soon as possible and most likely are in enough pain or sick enough that even waiting the half hour at their local pharmacy is a lot. I know if I am sick or injured enough to need prescription medication I cannot wait for a shipment and wouldn’t want to be forced to pay full price just because a company thinks I should.
I think Walgreens done the right thing. I think they definitely took control for their customers. We need more companies who aren’t going to let the big guys or middle men push them around. I think people will stand behind Walgreens the best they can and continue to shop there.
Jess
This really is sad and just the way America is set up with greedy companies, just horrible!