Walgreens expands 90-day pharmacy program offering

With the goal of driving better medication adherence and better outcomes by giving patients the choice of how to receive the medications, along with 24/7 pharmacist availability - Walgreens launched a new 90-day pharmacy program with EnvisionRx, the PBM division of EnvisionRxOptions.

The alliance will give patients the ability to fill 90-day prescriptions at 8,200 Walgreens pharmacies.

Jim Cohn, a spokesman for Walgreens told Drug Topics that the new program is another example of how the company is working closely with its partners to make the medications patients need more accessible and more affordable.

According to Walgreens, the new program is a reflection of the company’s ongoing efforts to provide greater value, care and service to customers. and patients when, where and how they need it.  “We’re working closely with PBMs and health plans to provide greater benefits to both our pharmacy customers and their clients,” Cohn said.

Walgreens has similar programs with Express Scripts (Smart90) and OptumRx (Optum Select 90.

Matt Gibbs, EnvisionRx president of commercial and managed markets said Rx90 is a new program.

Prior to its launch, the company conducted primary research to identify the key elements needed to make it successful, where other medication management programs have failed.

“When you think about getting members to change their behaviors, a successful approach has to address all of the reasons that cause patients to be non-adherent to their care plans,” Gibbs said.

According to EnvisionRx, Rx90 accomplishes this by ensuring that members have:

• convenient pharmacy access

• reduced costs

• more coordinated and timely communications across their pharmacy care experience

• clinical support to help resolve issues like drug interactions or dosage advice

“While we give each plan sponsor our recommendations, based on their own plan data, one of the benefits of working with Envision is that we give them options that help customize the program to meet their specific needs (geographic location, member profiles, etc.). On average, we expect Rx90 to provide individual clients with savings of between 2-7% on annual drug spending,” Gibbs said.

Customer feedback from Rx90 has been positive. “Customers told us that, to be successful, you can’t just force patients to use a single, narrow pharmacy channel or just give them a little discount on their co-pay. Member engagement and connecting patients to timely clinical support (in and out of store) were often cited as top priorities,” Gibbs said.

Envision members have access to over 12,000 pharmacies nationwide through its contracts with Walgreens and Rite Aid.

Cohn noted that patients appreciate and value the ability to get 90-day prescriptions at our retail locations for the same cost or co-pay as they do via mail. “It’s a more convenient, accessible and effective option for filling these prescriptions designed to meet consumers’ changing needs, while helping employers, health plans and their members to achieve cost savings and better health outcomes,” said Cohn.