Harris Teeter, Sam's Club Offer New Pharmacy Services

Harris Teeter and Sam’s Club have both rolled out pharmacy offerings aimed at better serving shoppers.

Matthews, N.C.-based Harris Teeter is now offering an updated version of its Generic Prescription Savings Club and a brand-new yourwellness savings card. Through the original Generic Prescription Savings Club, the grocer provided a 90-day supply of more than 300 generic medications for $9.99. Now the program features a 30-day supply for $3.99, with the list of available generics expanded to more than 400 items, as well as an up to 30-day supply of five common generic diabetic medications at no charge. Enrollment costs $4.95 annually to join, and pharmacists will fill out all required paperwork for customers.

The yourwellness savings card provides savings on such essential health care services as eyeglasses, contact lenses, dental cleanings, X-rays, fillings, vitamins, hearing aids, diabetic supplies and prescriptions. Offering a choice of three plans -- Bronze, Silver, or Platinum – the card has a one-time application fee of $3.95.

Over at Sam’s Club, the warehouse club chain has introduced an awareness campaign encouraging patients to consult with pharmacists on medications, as a way to mark American Pharmacists Month in October. During that time, Sam’s Club pharmacists will provide free prescription checkups for members and non-members alike.

To take part in "Making Sense of Your Medications," customers can bring all medications to a Sam's Club that has a pharmacy during regular pharmacy hours, without an appointment. The program runs through Oct. 31.

“At Sam’s Club, we believe that our pharmacists play an integral part of a patient's medical team,” noted Jill Turner-Mitchael, SVP, Sam’s Club health and wellness. “Free prescription checkups are a service that we provide year-round, but many customers may not be aware that this service is available to them -- that is why we are launching this awareness campaign during American Pharmacists Month.”

The free prescription checkup offers advice on how to take medications to maximize their effectiveness, including when and how to use them, whether they should be taken with food, and what side effects may occur, and a omprehensive assessment of all prescription medications to determine possible interactions, regardless of whether the prescriptions were filled at a Sam’s Cub pharmacy.

Additionally, Sam’s Club is making available its pharmacists to help customers enroll for various benefits, among them prescription drug plans such as that of the federal government's Medicare Part D, and more than 400 locations with pharmacies will hold free health screenings Oct. 9 designed to help shoppers find out about a variety of treatable conditions. The screenings, which are for adults 18 and older, may include bone density tests, screenings for osteoporosis, blood pressure checks and tests for cholesterol and glucose.

“You don't need a membership to use our pharmacy, so we want to invite our communities in and show them all the resources available at their local Sam's Club,” said Turner-Mitchael. "We want people to know that our pharmacists are there for them, and available to provide trusted advice on the decisions that can affect their quality of life the most.”

Located in 48 states and Puerto Rico, the Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart division employs more than 1,200 pharmacists.