Wal-Mart Accelerates Rollout of $4 Generic Rx Program

Bentonville, Ark., Wal-Mart Stores announced on Wednesday that it is rolling out its $4 generic prescription drug program in Florida beginning Friday, Oct. 6, 2006, nearly four months earlier than expected. The program was originally planned to be rolled out statewide in January 2007.

In making the announcement, Bill Simon, executive VP of the professional services division for Wal-Mart, said the response in the initial Tampa Bay, Fla., test market has been considerable, with 36,000 new prescriptions filled in the 10 days after the Sept. 21 launch.

The program has been expanded to include additional medications, including the oncology drug Megestrol. The list of $4 prescription medications now represents nearly 30% of scripts currently dispensed in the 235 Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and Neighborhood Market pharmacies throughout Florida.