It sounds like the generic $4.00 prescriptions are catching on. With retailers such as WalMart and Target offering over 300 commonly prescribed generic drugs for this price, how much longer will other retailers be able to compete...I would guess until the co-pays of $5.00 or more for prescriptions are slowly eliminated by the insurance industry for these types of drugs, as economically it doesn't make a lot of sense to pay claims for prescriptions and co-pays that are far more expensive than $4.00. It would be great to see those savings ($350 million quoted below) be available for other medical claims from the insurance industry. BD
BENTONVILLE, Arkansas (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said on Thursday that just six months after completing the roll-out of its $4 generic prescription drug program, 37.8 percent of all prescriptions it fills are $4 prescriptions.
Wal-Mart began selling certain generic drugs for $4 per monthly prescription in September and by the end of November had extended the program to all its U.S. pharmacies -- far ahead of schedule. Other retailers, including close rival Target Corp., have rolled out similar programs.
Simon estimated that Wal-Mart's $4 program has removed $350 million in costs from the U.S. healthcare system, with that number projected to rise to $1 billion in a year.
Simon also said the retailer still expects to open as many as 2,000 in-store health clinics in the next five to seven years if current demand persists.
Wal-Mart: $4 generics now 38 pct of filled scripts - Yahoo! News
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