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Walgreens Network Termination. Background. Background. Walgreens is the nations largest retail pharmacy chain, with nearly 8,000 locations across the country Includes Duane Reade and Happy Harry’s pharmacies in the N.E.
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Background • Walgreens is the nations largest retail pharmacy chain, with nearly 8,000 locations across the country • Includes Duane Reade and Happy Harry’s pharmacies in the N.E. • Walgreens announced on June 21 that they were at an impasse in their negotiations with Express Scripts on a new contract • Contract expires at midnight on 12/31/11 • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia members will not be able to receive their prescriptions from Walgreens beginning 1/1/12
Background, continued • Walgreens has initiated a public relations/propaganda campaign • Seeking to contract directly with large employers and health insurers • Encouraging members to contact their employer and insurance company to put pressure on them to keep Walgreens available to them • Multiple communications from Walgreens to members • A new deal could be reached anytime before or after 1/1/12
Our Communication Strategy • Given the increased aggressiveness of Walgreens communications, we began communicating to brokers, employers and members • Reduce member and client anxiety and concern about access • Assure members and clients that access would not be substantially affected and other in-network providers are within 0.5 miles of a Walgreens (on average) • Establish a sense of urgency for members to transfer their Rx’s to other in-network pharmacies
Bcbsga.com – Member Website • We’ve updated our Member websites to help guide our members to obtain information on how to find a pharmacy and obtain answers to questions. Members will see this link on the homepage.
