Wal-Mart expands generic drug rollout

Target follows suit, while other retail chains say their drug prices already are competitive.

By Tyler Chin, AMNews staff. Nov. 6, 2006.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Oct. 19 that it has accelerated the rollout of its discount generics program, as well as increasing the number of drugs covered.

As of that date, the big-box retailer began selling 314 generic prescriptions covering 143 separate medications in 15 states for $4 each.

The program was introduced Sept. 21 in Tampa, Fla., and included 291 generics covering 124 separate medications in various dosages and forms.

The retailer intended to expand the program statewide in Florida and then the rest of the country in 2007. However, consumer demand led the company to expand the number of covered drugs and accelerate the rollout to all of Florida on Oct. 5, and other states two weeks later.

The Florida Medical Assn. said it was pleased to see Wal-Mart lower the prices of generics but that it also was concerned that not every Floridian will be able to take advantage of the program because of access-to-care issues that prevent patients from seeing a doctor to get the prescriptions they need.

To participate in Wal-Mart's program, which charges the same price to the uninsured, customers should first "check with their physician to see if generic medication is a good alternative to what they may be taking," said David Tovar, a company spokesman. Wal-Mart says that its goal is to help make health care more affordable and accessible to customers and employees, but some experts say it's more about attracting customers.