Wal-Mart may have rolled out the first generic prescription price rollback, but Wegmans is going 1 cent cheaper.
New York-based Wegmans Food Markets Inc. announced a generic prescription drug program offering a90-day supply of almost 200 common maintenance drugs at varying dosages for $11.99. The program goes into effect today in all Wegmans stores.
“We have compiled a list of maintenance drugs which are frequently prescribed for our customers,” John Carlo, Wegmans? director of managed care said in a statement. “This a great starting point, but it?s likely the list will evolve over time with possibly more drugs or dosages added.”
Wegmans opened its first Maryland store in Hunt Valley Mall in October 2005, and it plans to open three more in Crofton, Frederick and Landover, spokeswoman Jo Natale said.
The program may help consumers making tough drug shopping choices, but it also makes good sense for the company, Natale said.
“A 90-day supply is more cost-effective for us to fill, so we?re going to realize a savings there,” Natale said.
Wegmans Food Markets Inc., founded in 1916, is a 71-store supermarket chain operating in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland.
Wal-Mart announced its generic drug discount program in September, offering 30-day supplies for $4 in 14 states. So far, Maryland is not on the list, but officials said earlier this month they are accelerating expansion of the program.
“This is Wal-Mart doing what it does best, driving the cost out of the system and passing the savings onto the customers. We?ve done this throughout the store, and this is us taking it to the pharmacy department,” spokeswoman Jami Arms said.
Wal-Mart?s move captured the lead, but did not force Wegman?s hand, Natale said.
“We have been discussing a program like this now for about four months. There?s no denying we sped up our program following the announcement by Wal-Mart,” Natale said.
The difference between Wegmans? program and those recently announced by other retailers is its focus on maintenance drugs, she said, because they cost consumers the most.
