Walgreen Co. and Express Scripts Inc. have launched Smart90 Walgreens, a new program that gives members of the pharmacy benefit manager's plan more choice in receiving 90-day prescriptions.

Plan sponsors including Walgreens as part of the Smart90 program for their pharmacy benefit will enable members to get 90-day supplies of maintenance medications via home delivery from Express Scripts or at a Walgreens retail pharmacy for the same co-payment.

DEERFIELD, Ill., and ST. LOUIS — Walgreen Co. and Express Scripts Inc. have launched Smart90 Walgreens, a new program that gives members of the pharmacy benefit manager’s plan more choice in receiving 90-day prescriptions.

The companies said Thursday that plan sponsors including Walgreens as part of the Smart90 program for their pharmacy benefit will enable members to get 90-day supplies of maintenance medications via home delivery from Express Scripts or at a Walgreens retail pharmacy for the same co-payment.

Pending adoption by benefit plan sponsors, plan members could access Smart90 Walgreens as early as January 2014, according to Walgreens and Express Scripts. The companies noted that 90-day prescription drug programs drive lower costs and improve health outcomes for people with chronic diseases such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes who require long-term treatment.

"Working together with Express Scripts, Smart90 Walgreens will offer more pharmacy locations and better member access coverage than any single retail chain 90-day maintenance medication solution in the nation," Kermit Crawford, president of pharmacy, health and wellness at Walgreens, said in a statement. "Through Smart90 Walgreens, our more than 8,000 Walgreens retail pharmacies will provide plan sponsors with cost savings and will offer their members safe, easy and convenient access to important in-person pharmacist consultations and a wide range of health and wellness services that can further improve medication adherence and lower overall health care costs."

With Smart90 Walgreens, whether members select home delivery from Express Scripts or pickup at a Walgreens pharmacy, overall savings rise because of more aggressively discounted pricing on 90-day prescriptions, the companies said. Adherence also increases because a patient’s opportunity to forget to refill a prescription is far fewer, just four times per year versus 12, according to Express Scripts.

"Members will be able to continue to receive the safety, convenience, cost savings and care offered from Express Scripts home delivery pharmacies," stated Glen Stettin, senior vice president of research and new solutions at Express Scripts. "Our data are clear: 90-day prescriptions delivered to a member’s home improve medication adherence and health outcomes, lower the cost of care and add convenience when compared to 30-day prescriptions. Over the past few years, our Smart90 program has driven more 90-day prescriptions for participating clients, and we’re pleased to now offer this additional option."