Kroger extends Rx network coverage with PBM

Kroger Co. said on Friday that its Kroger Health division has reached an agreement with Prime Therapeutics for Kroger’s pharmacies to remain in-network at the pharmacy benefit management company effective Jan. 1, 2023.

"Kroger is always looking for new opportunities and collaborations to make Medicare more accessible, and our direct agreement with Prime delivers benefits for our customers and for the thousands of communities we operate in daily," said Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health, in a statement.

The agreement with Prime will prevent disruption to Prime’s Medicare Part D members, mitigating the previously disclosed end-of-year Kroger termination with Express Scripts, Kroger said. The company said its pharmacies remain in-network for Prime's Medicare Part D Plan clients and nearly all national and regional Medicare Part D plans.

Prime Therapeutics is a diversified PBM collectively owned by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans that serves more than 33 million people.

Dave Schlett, executive VP and president, PBM solutions at Prime Therapeutics, said Kroger’s pharmacies have “a strong record of meeting and exceeding” the quality metrics required by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

“Prime and Kroger share a common focus on member-centered care and providing our members continued access to the Kroger Family of Pharmacies,” he said.