Wal-Mart expands low-price drug program

By PEGGY HARRIS, Associated Press Writer 25 minutes ago



Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, announced Monday it would expand its discounted prescription drug program to offer 90-day supplies for $10 and add several women's medications at a discount. It also said it would lower the price of more than 1,000 over-the-counter drugs.

The move marks the third phase of a company program that began in 2006 to provide a 30-day supply of generic prescription drugs for $4. Wal-Mart said the program has saved customers more than $1 billion.

With the expansion, the company began filling prescriptions Monday for up to 350 generic medications at $10 for a 90-day supply at Wal-Mart, Neighborhood Market and Sam's Club pharmacies in the U.S. Almost all the prescription generics in the company's $4 program were included in the expanded $10 offer, said Wal-Mart senior vice president John Agwunobi.

In addition, the company will add several women's medications to its list of prescriptions available for $9, including drugs to treat breast cancer and hormone deficiency.

For instance, alendronate, the generic version of osteoporosis medication Fosamax, will be added to the list. Company pharmacies will fill 30-day prescriptions of alendronate for $9 and a 90-day supply for $24 at a comparison of $54 and $102, respectively, that women previously paid for the same amounts, the company said.

Tamoxifen, used to treat breast cancer, will be offered for $9 for a 30-day supply, as well as combination estrogen/methyltestosterone tablets, prescribed for menopause and hormone deficiency.

Wal-Mart also will lower the prices of more than 1,000 over-the-counter medications to $4 or less in its pharmacies, company officials said. Those price rollbacks represent about one-third of the retailer's over-the-counter medicines. They include Wal-Mart's Equate versions of popular drugs, including Zantac, Pepcid and Claritin, and Wal-Mart's Spring Valley prenatal vitamins.

Since 2006, Wal-Mart's $4 generic drug program has expanded to every state, except North Dakota, where Wal-Mart has no in-store pharmacies. And many company competitors have followed the retailer's lead.

While stressing that the expansion was designed to help customers at a time of exorbitant health-care costs and difficult economic times, Agwunobi said the program has worked in everyone's favor.

"This is the time for us now to begin building capacity," he said. "It offers (customers') employers potential savings. It offers the customers significant savings. It also offers us the ability to add capacity to our pharmacies without adding people."

Agwunobi expects the 90-day discount will increase the company's market share of mail-order and online prescriptions as customers realize the value of the company offer.

Wal-Mart Chief Operating Officer Bill Simon said the results in each phase of the program have been strong and prescription volume has increased, "exceeding our expectations." He said the company would not, however, offer free generic drugs at its in-store clinics as some competitors have.

"We're in business to make money," Simon said. "Free is a price that is not a long-term sustainable proposition."

Shares of Wal-Mart fell 31 cents to $57.18 in midday trading Monday.

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Liberals are people that will believe anything twice.

I'm glad to see one corporation stepping up. I guess they make enough an all the other stuff they pay 4 cents a piece for from china. Did you know that Wal-Mart was chinas largest employer. As Dank says, Mao-Mart. The problem is, with the shithouse wages being offered to the lower-middle class, Wal-Mart is all they can afford. Wal-Mart is an example of non-competitors. They have closed down more businesses than any other cause. No-one can compete with Mao-Mart. Those superstores have almost everything anyone ever needs, from groceries to auto parts and service, medical services to pop-corn, all in one place. I live close to a superstore and a Lowes. where else do I have to go. I got my last pair of glasses for less than my co-pay with my insurance. too bad they don't do dental`~LOL~.

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Life is good, the water is sweet. The ground keeps moving beneath my feet.

His views of Corporate supremacy knows no bounds.

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The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. United State Constitution, Art. I Sec. 9 Par. 2

"Dissent is the Highest form of Patriotism" -- Howard Zinn

I admit to buying a few things from wallmart although only in the last 12 years before that only fishing equipment and I owned a lot of stock in it from 34 years ago. A friend worked there and sold me his stock, as the stock went up over the years he slowly came to hate me. I think he thought I should sell and split the money with him, that was 20 years ago. Strange how some people think, he wanted to sell and I had the cash and he got more by selling to me.

Sam Walton would roll over in his grave if he could see what his kids had done to his company. His Motto was "Buy American".

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The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. United State Constitution, Art. I Sec. 9 Par. 2

"Dissent is the Highest form of Patriotism" -- Howard Zinn

NOT a complete picture... don;t get to quick on making any conclusions...

The USA is giving away $600 to 100 million plus taxpayers...

Guess what, IT'S your money... lol

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SeeMoreBuds
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WalMart's discount drug program has saved consumers over ONE BILLION DOLLARS so far. Many of those consumers are poor and uninsured.

Hey Dank ... should we bring back, and subsidize the buggy whip factories?

Vi

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Liberals are people that will believe anything twice.

Just curious Vi, do you believe we should switch to a system of socialized medicine? And/or would you support Hillary Clinton's proposed "European-style socialized medicine" plan?

whoopty fucking do Vi, Walmart's deviation from Sam Walton's Policies of Buying American has cost The United States millions of jobs. When all the Jobs are gone who's going to be able to buy all those products that the Chinese are producing for 10 cents an hour?

Please, your logic is extremely flawed.

__________________
The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. United State Constitution, Art. I Sec. 9 Par. 2

"Dissent is the Highest form of Patriotism" -- Howard Zinn

Wal-Mart Watch

Links to Anti-Wal-Mart Resources - HEL*MART™

WakeUpWalMart.com - Join the fight to change Wal-Mart and change America

__________________
The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. United State Constitution, Art. I Sec. 9 Par. 2

"Dissent is the Highest form of Patriotism" -- Howard Zinn