Walgreens targets Dallas for Village Medical expansion

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and VillageMd are expanding in Texas.

Walgreen and VillageMD said they will open 20 Village Medical primary care practices at Walgreens stores in the Dallas area during the next year. The first opened on Oct. 26, in Dallas, with additional locations to be added in November and December. The expansion in Dallas represents the group’s fourth major market in Texas, following Houston, El Paso and Austin.

Walgreens entered into a strategic partnership with VillageMD in July 2020. The companies plan to open 1,000 Village Medical primary care practices at Walgreens locations by 2027, with more than 80 to be opened by the end of 2021. More than 160 VillageMD locations are expected to be opened by the end of 2022. More than 50% of the practices will be in medically underserved areas.

[Read More: Walgreens to invest $5.2 billion in VillageMD, becoming majority owner]

Through the Walgreens and VillageMD coordinated care model, patients receive comprehensive primary care from physicians alongside convenient pharmacy services. Village Medical primary care physicians and Walgreens pharmacists work together to provide care for chronic conditions, as well as everyday illnesses and injuries. Walgreens estimates that 75% of Texas' healthcare expenditures are for chronic diseases, though many areas lack primary care.