Walgreens expands health care push with new partnership
Walgreens, a division of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., is teaming up with a provider of value-based care technology solutions.
Walgreens is partnering with Pearl Health, a health care provider enablement company, to accelerate the expansion of value-based care in collaboration with community-based primary care physicians. Pearl Health offers solutions that enable clinical teams to provide holistic, personalized treatment as part of value-based care.
The drugstore retailer will provide complementary services, including prescription fulfillment, medication adherence, immunizations, care gap closure and diagnostic testing. Walgreens will also work with providers to help patients discharged from the hospital transition to home.
“Walgreens is committed to being the partner of choice for providers and health systems looking to transition quickly and effectively to value-based care and improve outcomes in the communities they serve,” said John Driscoll, executive VP and president, U.S. Healthcare, Walgreens Boots Alliance. “Our partnership with Pearl Health allows us to reach more communities faster and enable comprehensive, affordable care that improves long-term health outcomes and fosters healthier communities.”
“At Pearl Health, we believe that local primary care providers are key to improving America’s overall health. Our technology-powered value-based care model aligns seamlessly with the healthcare services Walgreens offers, particularly in the most vulnerable communities,” said Michael Kopko, CEO, Pearl Health. “With a focus on proactive, coordinated care, we’ll collaborate to deliver a better solution to providers and ultimately deliver high-quality services to patients, while managing their care efficiently. We’re very excited about the implications of this partnership for patients in Medicare and beyond.”
Walgreens expands health care presence
Walgreens, which invested $5.2 billion to obtain a majority stake in value-based primary care provider VillageMD in 2021, has been increasing its focus on health care. The company, which acquired healthcare provider Summit Health-CityMD earlier this year, increased its U.S. healthcare fiscal year 2025 sales goal to $14.5 billion to $16 billion, from $11 billion to $12 billion previously.
Walgreens is also is upping its investment in the fast-growing specialty pharmacy business. In October, it said it would buy the remaining 30% stake in specialty pharmacy company Shields Health Solutions that it didn’t already own for an estimated $1.37 billion.
Walgreens is included in the U.S. Retail Pharmacy and U.S. Healthcare segments of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail company. It operates nearly 9,000 retail locations across America, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.