Like a vintage, aged cheddar and a fine glass of Shiraz, prescriptions drugs and business pair together perfectly. To prove this, Walgreens and UnitedHealth have just joined forces and it is truly an act of beauty. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder they say, but if you think having access to 90-day prescriptions is beautiful, then this news will excite you. Here are five more facts in regards to the merger.
1. IT USED TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE TO GET DRUGS AT WALGREENS
Perhaps I am a young and nieve to the world of prescription drugs, but apparently, it’s more expensive for patients to pick up their prescription drugs from a pharmacy like Walgreens than it is to have the drug providers use their own delivery service. That is until UnitedHealth decided to step in.
2. UNITEDHEALTH TO HELP WITH COST MANAGEMENT
Starting on January 1, 2017, the option to picks up drugs at a commercial pharmacy will be implemented. The plan hopes to provide better access and cost management while also improving the rates at which members can maintain their prescriptions. This is no addition cost to the members of the service.
3. DRUGS WILL BE EASIER TO GET
OptumRX is the largest pharmacy benefits manager. They pay places like Walgreens to process their prescriptions for consumers. Now, with the new UnitedHealth merger, Walgreens can do much more prescription sales. This will make filling prescriptions easier and more economical for customers.
4. THIS DEFEATS THE NEED FOR A PBM
Prior to the merger with UnitedHealth, many thought that Walgreens would need to own its own pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) in order to compete with stores like CVS. Now with the merger, this eliminates the need for their own PBM. This not only saves the pharmacy money but all of its customers as well.
5. PHARMACY MAY HAVE A HEART
Working in the drug business isn’t exactly the most ethical of practices. The United States seems to be especially corrupt in this regard as an absurd amount of money is made off the illness of others. While this UnitedHealth merger is far from ending this lunacy, it’s a step in the right direction. For the first time in a while, subscription drug users will be getting some benefits from the industry. Let’s hope this represents a positive step forward.
