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Wal-Mart Expands Discount Drug Program In Georgia

Thursday, September 27, 2007 – updated: 10:15 am EDT September 27, 2007

Wal-Mart is expanding its popular $4 drug prescription program in Georgia and stores across the country.

  • LINK: $4 Wal-Mart Prescription Program
  • The retailer is adding 24 drugs to the program including medicines for glaucoma, attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), fungal infections and acne.

    Fertility and prescription birth control will also be included at $9, compared to national average prices ranging from $24 to $30 per month.

    The program also will include new-to-market generic drugs.

    One month ago, the antifungal Lamisil® had an average price of $337.26. The generic equivalent, terbinafine, is now available through Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and Neighborhood Market pharmacies for just $4, according to a release from the company.

    Wal-Mart officials said the year-old program has saved Georgians nearly $25 million.

    “Today’s announcement reinforces our commitment to driving costs out of the health system and saving money for our customers so they can live better, healthier lives,” said Dr. John Agwunobi, Wal-Mart senior vice president and president for the professional services division.

    “The savings were a big deal 12 months ago and an even bigger deal today for customers struggling with spiraling healthcare costs. Every day, they turn to our pharmacy for prescriptions to manage conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, or even simple colds.”

    Some of the drugs added to the program include: timolol maleate (glaucoma), terbinafine (antifungal), carvedilol (cardiac), and three $9 women’s medications – including generic birth control product for Ortho Cyclen® and Ortho Tri-Cyclen®, and a fertility product, Clomiphene.

    The full list is available at www.walmart.com/pharmacy. You can also call Wal-Mart at 1-800-WALMART.

    “This program has exceeded all of our expectations,” said Bill Simon, executive vice president, chief operating officer, Wal-Mart Stores Division.

    “So many Americans rely on our $4 prescription program to get the medicines they need. Phase two of the program is a welcome move that brings additional value and choice to our pharmacy customers, and we’ll continue to look for new ways to drive costs out of the healthcare system.”

    The $4 prescription program was initially launched in Tampa, Fla., on September 21, 2006 and expanded to 49 states by November.

    Wal-Mart does not operate in-store pharmacies in its North Dakota stores.

    The retailer has also introduced a similar discount program in Puerto Rico, Mexico and Brazil.

    “Wal-Mart’s $4 prescription drug program has had a major impact at a time when rising healthcare costs are on everyone’s mind,” said Paul A. London, former deputy under secretary of commerce for economics and statistics in the Clinton Administration and author of The Competition Solution: The Bipartisan Secret behind American Prosperity, who has been hired by Wal-Mart to analyze the program’s economic impact.

    “This program has the potential to lower what the country pays for prescription drugs by tens of billions of dollars annually as customers learn of the program and competitors match it. Wal-Mart is applying its basic business model to lower prices and make affordable healthcare available to more Americans.”

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