Wal-Mart Adds 12 More States to Generic Prescription Program
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - With more than 152,000 new prescriptions filled during the first four days of a 14-state, $4 generic prescription program, Wal-Mart said yesterday that it is adding 12 more states to the rollout.
The program is now available in an additional 1,008 stores throughout Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Dakota, and Virginia, the chain said.
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The program, installed at 1,499 pharmacies in 15 states over the past month, was originally slated to debut in as many states as possible outside of Florida by as early as January 2007; but customer demand led Wal-Mart to accelerate the launch.
"No American should have to cut pills in half, decide between taking medicine and putting food on the table, or go without medicines altogether," said Wal-Mart president and c.e.o. Lee Scott in a statement. "We are very proud to be leading this effort to make sure our nation's seniors, working families, and uninsured get the medications they need at a price they can afford."
The $4 generics program includes 314 generic prescriptions available for up to a 30-day supply at commonly prescribed dosages.
Bill Simon, e.v.p. of Wal-Mart's professional services division, said the customer response since the program's launch has been significant. Within four days of the Oct. 19 official roll-out, Wal-Mart pharmacies filled more than 152,000 new prescriptions.
Simon said that Wal-Mart will continue to push for expansion to other states as quickly as possible.
"Our goal is to respond to customer demand, but to do so in a way that doesn't hamper our ability to serve our customers," he said. "We are listening to our pharmacists and looking at our supply chain management and in-store operations, so that we can figure out how we can continue to make this program available to as many customers as possible without jeopardizing our business or the relationship between our customers and our pharmacists."
The $4 prescriptions are available online or by telephone for refills only for in-person pickup in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia.
The program is now available in an additional 1,008 stores throughout Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Dakota, and Virginia, the chain said.
(Story continues below.)
The program, installed at 1,499 pharmacies in 15 states over the past month, was originally slated to debut in as many states as possible outside of Florida by as early as January 2007; but customer demand led Wal-Mart to accelerate the launch.
"No American should have to cut pills in half, decide between taking medicine and putting food on the table, or go without medicines altogether," said Wal-Mart president and c.e.o. Lee Scott in a statement. "We are very proud to be leading this effort to make sure our nation's seniors, working families, and uninsured get the medications they need at a price they can afford."
The $4 generics program includes 314 generic prescriptions available for up to a 30-day supply at commonly prescribed dosages.
Bill Simon, e.v.p. of Wal-Mart's professional services division, said the customer response since the program's launch has been significant. Within four days of the Oct. 19 official roll-out, Wal-Mart pharmacies filled more than 152,000 new prescriptions.
Simon said that Wal-Mart will continue to push for expansion to other states as quickly as possible.
"Our goal is to respond to customer demand, but to do so in a way that doesn't hamper our ability to serve our customers," he said. "We are listening to our pharmacists and looking at our supply chain management and in-store operations, so that we can figure out how we can continue to make this program available to as many customers as possible without jeopardizing our business or the relationship between our customers and our pharmacists."
The $4 prescriptions are available online or by telephone for refills only for in-person pickup in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia.