DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens and EnvisionRx are launching a prescription drug program that is designed to give patients with chronic conditions more flexibility in getting their maintenance medications.

Called Rx90, the program allows patients to fill 90-day prescriptions at any of the nearly 8,200 Walgreens pharmacies nationwide for the same price they would pay for home delivery of the medications via EnvisionPharmacies’ mail service option.

EnvisionRx, a pharmacy benefits management company, is part of Rite Aid Corp.’s EnvisionRxOptions division. Rx90 prescriptions can also be filled at Rite Aid’s nearly 4,600 pharmacies, giving the Rx90 program the largest 90-day retail prescription medication network in the country, according to EnvisionRx.

In addition to providing retail access to their maintenance drugs, Rx90 offers patients integrated care and clinical support from EnvisionRx and Walgreens pharmacists, as well as targeted, disease-specific communications. The support is designed to help change patient behavior and improve their medication adherence, according to the companies.

EnvisionRx also notes that it can use client-specific data and its own research to provide health plans and employers with recommendations on customizing their benefit design, communications and clinical strategies to meet their individual needs. Rx90 also promises to help plan sponsors better control drug spending and reduce costly medical expenses associated with increased visits to physicians and emergency rooms, as well with as extended hospitalizations.

“We’re pleased to work with EnvisionRx to create a pharmacy solution that can benefit patients, health plans and employers and reflects our commitment to provide greater care and service to our customers and patients,” commented Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.

“Stronger collaboration with PBMs and health plans is critical in today’s health care environment, to help ensure our patients can continue to get the medications they need at prices they can afford, and with the pharmacy support they depend upon,” he added.

By providing consumers with improved pricing, more convenient options on how to fill their 90-day maintenance medications, and the support they need, EnvisionRx and Walgreens say they are working together, as well as with plan sponsors, to address rising health care costs.

“In today’s market, plan sponsors need a partner that can truly provide transparency around performance and provide more options for their business and their members,” said Frank Sheehy, chief executive officer of EnvisionRxOptions. “Through Rx90, plan sponsors are able to design the prescription drug benefit plan that’s right for them. Coupled with our proprietary technology platform, we can provide better visibility on results and make adjustments faster than other PBMs, which helps Envision deliver real value.”

Rite Aid’s implementation of Rx90, announced over the summer, brought “an innovative pharmacy solution for consumers, health plans and employers to market,” said Jocelyn Konrad, the Camp Hill, Pa.-based retailer’s executive vice president of pharmacy.

“Rx90 is a great example of how our pharmacies and PBMs can collaborate to achieve our shared goal of improving the patient experience and care, while reducing and managing health care costs,” she added.
Sheehy said the program offers flexibility in controlling the costs of chronic care. Rx90 puts “actionable, cost saving information” in the hands of plan members, he noted.

EnvisionRxOptions, based in Twinsburg, Ohio, is a health care company with what it says is a visibly different approach to managing pharmacy benefits. As a full-service provider, Envision leverages its core PBM services (including mail service, specialty and compounding pharmacies), Part D Medicare insurance plans and cash savings programs to help employers and health plans of all sizes provide more affordable and effective prescription drug coverage for their members.