Wal-Mart's $4 Generics Program to Launch in Final 11 States
BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is launching its $4 generic prescription program in 11 additional states tomorrow, making the program available in all of its U.S. pharmacies.
With the announcement, the expanded $4 generic prescription program will now be available in an additional 811 stores throughout California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Though it kicked off the program in Florida in September, with intentions to spread outside the state in January 2007, Wal-Mart said customer demand led it to accelerate the rollout of the program -- now available in all of its 3,810 pharmacies.
Wal-Mart has expanded the program to include 331 generic prescriptions available for up to a 30-day supply at commonly prescribed dosages. The list is made up of as many as 143 compounds in 26 therapeutic categories.
Bill Simon, e.v.p. of Wal-Mart's Professional Services Division, said in a statement that the customer response has been significant. "This program has had a positive impact on millions of Americans. We have received hundreds of letters and e-mails from customers over the last few months telling us how this program has changed their lives," said Simon. "There are so many folks out there who are living on limited budgets and have paid too much for their medicines for too long. Their stories drove us to expand this program as quickly as possible, and it drove our competitors to meet our $4 price. This program is good for customers, our communities, and our health care system."
Simon noted that certain generic drugs in the program are priced higher than $4 in some states, due to state law. The program is not available in North Dakota because the company does not operate its own pharmacies in the state.
With the announcement, the expanded $4 generic prescription program will now be available in an additional 811 stores throughout California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Though it kicked off the program in Florida in September, with intentions to spread outside the state in January 2007, Wal-Mart said customer demand led it to accelerate the rollout of the program -- now available in all of its 3,810 pharmacies.
Wal-Mart has expanded the program to include 331 generic prescriptions available for up to a 30-day supply at commonly prescribed dosages. The list is made up of as many as 143 compounds in 26 therapeutic categories.
Bill Simon, e.v.p. of Wal-Mart's Professional Services Division, said in a statement that the customer response has been significant. "This program has had a positive impact on millions of Americans. We have received hundreds of letters and e-mails from customers over the last few months telling us how this program has changed their lives," said Simon. "There are so many folks out there who are living on limited budgets and have paid too much for their medicines for too long. Their stories drove us to expand this program as quickly as possible, and it drove our competitors to meet our $4 price. This program is good for customers, our communities, and our health care system."
Simon noted that certain generic drugs in the program are priced higher than $4 in some states, due to state law. The program is not available in North Dakota because the company does not operate its own pharmacies in the state.