Wal-Mart to Expand Generic Drug Program (AP)

[OhioChick]

By MARCUS KABEL , 10.18.2006, 09:33 PM
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will announce Thursday it is expanding a program offering $4 prescriptions for some generic drugs to 14 more states, two weeks after rolling out the low-cost program in Florida.

Wal-Mart said Wednesday it would call news conferences in states from Vermont to Alaska but declined to say what they are about, except that they involved "a major new initiative" for consumers.

One state official familiar with the expansion, who declined to be named because the topic is supposed to be kept confidential, confirmed the announcements would be about $4 generics coming to those states.

Wal-Mart said it expected to expand the program nationwide when it announced Oct. 5 that it was rolling out the plan in Florida after a successful test in the Tampa area.
http://www.forbes.com/technology/feeds/ap/2006/10/18/ap3102869.html

[spag68]

1. wal-mart

If I had to do without meds. or buy from walmart, I would just die first. I'm old anyway.

[OhioChick]

2. I have a family member

that works in the pharmacy field in a drugstore type chain. Those higher up from her said that Walmart is doing this to hurt the drugstore chains, hoping they go out of business. As soon as they can get rid of as many chains as possible.......prices will go back up on these drugs.

[Polesitter]

3. That doesn't track how Wal Mart has priced other goods

They don't wait until AJAX Sock Company goes out of business, and then raise the price of their socks. What is your evidence that they will do that with drugs?

Why wouldn't it force (legal) drug prices downward overall? What it could do is rein in the drug companies like no one else can.

When my drug store (Giant) charges $30 for a prescription ($8 co-pay, $22 paid by BCBS) but $85 for someone without drug coverage in their insurance, then a dose of Wal Mart is precisely what they need.

I'm OK with it as long as the meds are not imported from China.

[amandabeech]

4. Costco has cheap generics, and anyone can use their pharmacies.

For example, I had to take a prescription generic for a few months when I didn't have drug coverage. CVS, the huge eastern chain, tried to charge me $180 for a month's worth. I told them that I'd shop around. Costco charged me $18!!!!!

A friend recently told me that CVS now charges the Costco price if you ask and have the price to give them. For me, CVS is much more convenient.

Rite-Aid sometimes will charge you the Wal-Mart price if you ask and give them the price. I wonder if they will go with the $4 price!

On top of all of that, Costco treats its employees decently. CVS and Rite-Aid may as well.

[OhioChick]

5. Think

that Walmart's competitors never take into consideration what moves Walmart makes, and why? Walmart isn't giving cheap meds out due to having a big heart. Don't think that big pharma/Walmart/government are all sleeping in the same bed....? If you look at Walmart as an empire.......just wait.

[hatrack]

6. And when Wal-Mart's workforce goes from 20% to 40% part-time . . .

Some of them will still be able to buy some generics. Isn't that big-hearted of those kind and noble corporate leaders?

:eyes: