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Costco inks 90-day scripts pact with Rite Aid’s EnvisionRx

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TWINSBURG, Ohio, and ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp. plans to offer a 90-day maintenance medication program through its pharmacies under an agreement with EnvisionRx, a pharmacy benefit management subsidiary of Rite Aid Corp.

The companies said Thursday that Costco will participate in EnvisionRx’s Rx90 prescription drug program. Rx90 enables patients to fill 90-day prescriptions at any of Costco’s nearly 500 U.S. in-store pharmacies or, for the same price, to have their scripts delivered via the EnvisionPharmacies mail service.

Costco pharmacy windowPatients also can choose to have their maintenance prescriptions filled at other participating Rx90 pharmacies, which include the approximately 4,550 Rite Aid drug stores and 8,200 Walgreens pharmacies.

“When you combine our large membership base and tremendous buying power with our never-ending quest for efficiency, the result is the lowest possible price for members,” Victor Curtis, senior vice president of pharmacy at Costco, said in a statement. “The EnvisionRx approach to pharmacy benefits and their transparent philosophy of sharing savings with their clients and members make this a natural partnership that we believe will help make Costco members happier and healthier and introduce Costco to more customers.”

EnvisionRx said Rx90, introduced with Rite Aid last August, is the nation’s largest 90-day maintenance medication network. The company noted that the program also integrates clinical support from pharmacists and EnvisionRx; provides targeted, disease-specific communications; and reducing co-payments to provide most members with up to 30 days of free coverage.

“We analyze each plan sponsor’s membership and, based on their own plan data, we provide recommendations,” stated Dawn Sherman, president of EnvisionRxOptions, of which EnvisionRx is a division. “We give them options to customize their program, based on their specific needs — geographic location, business goals, or member profiles. Our average Rx90 client saves between 2% to 7% on annual drug spending.”

Using PBM’s technology platform, clients also can review results and fine-tune their benefit design to give members more value, EnvisionRx added. That helps payers get better control of their drug spend and rein in medical costs from increased visits to doctors, emergency rooms and extended hospitalizations, the company said.

“Getting patients to change their behavior isn’t easy,” according to Sherman. “A successful strategy needs to address all of the reasons that cause members to be non-adherent to their care plans.”

Besides PBM and mail pharmacy, EnvisionRxOptions’ roster of services includes specialty pharmacy and compounding, Medicare Part D insurance plans and cash savings programs.


ECRM_06-01-22


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