RetireSafe tries to mediate things between Express Scripts and Walgreens

Posted by Theresa Milano On Friday, January 6th 2012 in Health

RetireSafe, the organization that tells America’s seniors about the matters regarding Social Security, Medicare, health and financial well being, asked Express Scripts, Inc (ESI) today to restart negotiations with Walgreens. From January 1^st onward the patients who have pharmacy benefit plans overseen by Express Scripts are no longer able to take their prescriptions from Walgreens.

"Walgreens is a valued community partner upon which seniors and their families rely. As a representative of these Americans in communities across the country, we urge Express Scripts to put the health and safety of retired Americans first and to return swiftly to contract negotiations with Walgreens," said Thair Phillips, the President of RetireSafe. "The loss of these services is already proving to be detrimental to the health and safety of retired Americans."

In a letter they sent to Express Scripts, the officials from RetireSafe pointed out the impact Express Scripts’ decision had on its members.

"We are well aware that Walgreens provides services well beyond simply filling prescriptions. In fact, they offer 24-hour access, immunizations, walk-in health care centers, and medication management programs," the letter stated. "Denying retired Americans access to these services is much more than a business decision -- it is one that will directly affect the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of seniors. By denying access to these services, Express Scripts also assaults Americans' ability to retire safely by chipping at health security, which is one of retirement's major cornerstones."

Walgreens was founded 110 years ago. The company now has 8,000 stores all over the nation which serve 40 million consumers each week.