Walmart digs into the specialty pharmacy business

Walmart could be shifting its healthcare strategy as the retailer ramps up its “autoimmune-focused” specialty pharmacy business, reports Forbes.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based company said 25 additional autoimmune-focused specialty pharmacies will be opening in five states. With the expansion, Walmart will have a total of 31 such units in stores located in nine states, including Alabama, Idaho, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Wisconsin.

The announcement came after Walmart decided to close all 51 of its Walmart Health clinics and discontinue its telehealth operations in April. The company said it was unable to generate a profit from the business, citing the “challenging reimbursement environment,” as well as rising operating costs.

Specialty pharmacies give consumers a less expensive option when it comes to drugs that require specialized administration, refrigeration, packaging, and patient instructions. The pharmacies will be part of the Walmart store floor plan, with specialty-trained pharmacy staff, a secondary specialty designation, and an offering consisting of condition-specific specialty services.

Patients with autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and gastrointestinal conditions will be able to receive treatment at the autoimmune-focused specialty pharmacies.

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According to Forbes, Walmart also has specialty pharmacies that focus on HIV, and combined with the autoimmune locations, the retailer will have specialty pharmacies at 158 locations in the U.S.

The move comes as Walgreens is about to transition AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy to Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy on Aug. 1. Patients of AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy and Walgreens community-based specialty pharmacies will have access to clinicians with key disease state expertise, nutritionists, and care nurses.

The expansion will also include a gene and cell services pharmacy and innovation center in Pittsburgh, Pa., and four central specialty pharmacies where pharmacists and care teams across the country work together to dispense highly complex medications and help patients manage chronic or rare diseases and conditions. 

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Both Walgreens and Walmart are getting involved in specialty pharmacies, which deal with illnesses and healthcare issues that are more complex. Do you see more grocers, pharmacies jumping on this trend? Comment below or contact the SN staff at [email protected].