Wal-Mart offers $4 drugs

Wal-Mart had an increase in new prescriptions in the U.S. since it began offering cheaper meds in Florida.

By Jess Camp

Published Oct. 31, 2006

Wal-Mart is offering certain prescription drugs for $4 to consumers who don't have medical insurance.

The program began in Missouri on Oct. 26.

"It is a part of our ongoing commitment to make health care more affordable," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Marissa Bluestone said.

The reduced price will help those who cannot afford medicine to obtain it, she said. Originally, this price change would not have gone into affect until 2007.

"There was a demand for the price change," Bluestone said. "We'd been asked about it by customers, and we've been trying to get it out as fast as possible."

The price change affects 314 generic-brand prescriptions, Bluestone said. Wal-Mart filled 152,000 new prescriptions in the U.S. between Oct.17 and Oct. 22. Bluestone said this was a big increase during that period, when the new program was in effect in Florida. Wal-Mart's price reduction is only eligible for those people who do not have medical insurance.

The Medicine Shoppe and Hy-Vee aren't concerned that Wal-Mart might lure customers away with the new price slash.

"It might affect us in the future, but I don't think so," Medicine Shoppe pharmacist Mary Walden said. "I haven't seen any transfers out."

Hy-Vee pharmacy manager Tom Klucking said the price drop hasn't affected his store.

"It only affects a small amount of the population," Klucking said. "They offer a small amount of drugs."

Kilgore's Medical Pharmacy is sure that Wal-Mart is not a threat.

"It hasn't affected us, because most of our customers are covered by prescription plans," Kilgore's owner Bob Kilgore said.

The public might wonder why Wal-Mart would offer such a discounted price to shoppers.

"I think Wal-Mart is probably under some minor pressure to do something to demonstrate to the public that they are a good corporate citizen," MU marketing department chairman Ratti Ratneshwar said in a Oct. 13 Maneater article. "This is a proactive way of signaling that they can do some good."

According to a Wal-Mart news release, the program affects more than 720,000 Medicare recipients in Missouri.

There are four Wal-Mart locations in Columbia that would offer $4 prescriptions. There are two Wal-Mart Supercenters, a Wal-Mart Discount Center and a Sam's Club.