whatever their motive, this will help A LOT of people
business
Wal-Mart to sell generic drugs for $4
Retailer, criticized for employee health care coverage, to test program in Fla.
By Anne D'Innocenzio
The Associated Press
Originally published September 21, 2006, 12:44 PM EDT
NEW YORK // Wal-Mart Stores Inc., facing pressure from critics who call its employee health care coverage inadequate, plans to begin selling nearly 300 generic prescription drugs for a sharply reduced price of $4 for a month's supply.

The world's biggest retailer said today that it will test the program in Florida and it will include 291 generic drugs available for conditions from allergies to high-blood pressure. The plan is available to its employees and customers, including those without insurance.




Wal-Mart officials said the reduced price represents a savings to the customer of up to 70 percent on some drugs.

"Wal-Mart is taking this step so our customers and associates can get the medicines they need at a cost they can afford," Bill Simon, executive vice president of the company's professional services division, said in announcing the plan at a Tampa, Fla., store.

The program will be launched on Friday at 65 Wal-Mart, Neighborhood Market and Sams' Club pharmacies in the Tampa Bay area and will be expanded to the entire state in January.

Simon wouldn't be specific about why Florida and specifically the Tampa Bay area was chosen for the rollout of the initiative, saying only that there was a need for it here.

The company said it plans to expand the program to as many states as possible next year.

Simon said the 291 generic drugs include "the most commonly prescribed drugs for some of the most common illnesses that face Americans today, including cardiac disease, asthma, diabetes, glaucoma, Parkinson's (disease) and thyroid conditions."

Simon wouldn't give details on how much the plan is expected to cost Wal-Mart or the company's dealings with the drug companies involved.

"We're able to do this by using one of our greatest strengths as a company -- our business model and our ability to drive costs out of the system, and the model that passes those costs savings to our customers," he said. "In this case were applying that business model to health care."

The $4 prescriptions are not available by mail order and are being offered online only if picked up in person in the Tampa Bay area.

In a conference call with reporters, Simon said that the generic drugs would not be sold at a loss to entice customers into the stores, a strategy that has been used in Wal-Mart's toy business.

He said Wal-Mart is working with drugmakers to help them be more efficient, but added, "We are working with them as partners. We are not pressuring them to reduce prices."

Tampa Wal-Mart pharmacy customer Pat Sullivan praised the company's initiative. The retired Massachusetts police officer said $4 generic prescriptions are a tremendous help.

"I'm on disability and my benefits run out by the end of the month," he said. "It comes down to where do I go for a $100 prescription? I have no outlet other than to break a pill in half and take half today and half tomorrow."

The initiative -- the fourth since last October that Wal-Mart has moved to improve health benefits -- drew criticism from one of its most vocal anti-union groups, Wake Up Wal-Mart.

"While lowering prescription drug costs is a good thing, Wal-Mart cruelly ignores the fact that it fails to provide company health care to over half of its employees which leaves 46 percent of its workers children uninsured or on public health care," said Chris Kofinis, spokesman for Wake Up Wal-Mart, in a statement. "Wal-Mart needs to answer one very simple, but serious question -- why not just improve the health care coverage of its employees?

Wal-Mart's recent moves to improve its health care included relaxing eligibility requirements for its part-time employees who want health insurance, and extending coverage for the first time to the children of those employees. Part-time employees, who had to work for Wal-Mart for two years to qualify, now have to work at the company for one year. This year, Wal-Mart also expanded a trial run of in-store clinics, aimed at providing lower cost non-emergency health care to the public.

Last October, Wal-Mart offered a new lower-premium insurance aimed at getting more of its work force on company plans.

But critics argue that Wal-Mart's coverage calls for a deductible that requires workers to pick up the first $1,000 in medical expenses, and the deductible rises to a maximum of $3,000 for families.

Wake Up Wal-Mart have called upon Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart to offer better health care coverage and higher pay to employees.

Critics contend that the company's benefits are too stingy, forcing taxpayers to absorb more of the cost as the workers lacking coverage turn to state-funded health care programs.

This past summer, Wal-Mart won a successful fight against a first-of-its-kind state law that would have required the retailer to spend more on employee health care in Maryland. A federal judge ruled in July that it was invalid under federal law. But other states are considering similar legislation aimed at the company.

Its shares fell 17 cents to $48.70 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Associated Press Writer Mitch Stacy in Tampa, Fla., contributed to this report.

IrresistibleB1tch said:

I have to go with WalMart on this one. In this age of outrageous prescription prices, it's a breath of fresh air. Besides, they're only the generic prescriptions. I still won't be able to get Nexium for a decent price, so I won't be using their services, myself. I'm paying $5 for a three month supply of a generic drug through Mayo Clinic, so I'm still getting the better deal...but now I'm just rambling and I'll stop before I start changing the topic of the thread.

TMPletz said:

what, me, give up an opportunity to bash Wal-Mart?!

well, while this might be temporary help to a lot of people, i know that Wal-Mart has never been in the charity business. once the pharmacies in the area go out of business, you can kiss your cheap prescriptions good-bye!

IrresistibleB1tch said:

IB is unfortunately correct with that statement. The spin doctoring doesn't fool me.

jerseykrs said:

IrresistibleB1tch said:

Most of the pharmacies around this area are already tied to other department stores if not one of the two clinics. I don't see the others shutting down...especially if it stays restricted to the generics.

What is this "Generic Disease" and why do I need drugs against it?

Justin1972UK said:

don't question it, just take 'em! and be sure to buy some Wal-Mart water to wash 'em down with!!

Boy I love Walmart!!