Wal-Mart expands cheap drug program

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. expanded its cheap prescription drugs program to stores in 11 more states Thursday, including its pharmacies in Washington and Idaho.

People can pay $4 for a 30-day supply covering 331 commonly prescribed drugs.

“We’re using our business model to drive out unnecessary costs and pass along those savings to our customers,” said Richard Sigley, the company’s pharmacy district manager. He said prescription drug prices have risen at twice the rate of inflation this year, pinching customers — especially seniors on fixed incomes.

Customer Patricia Hubbard said she expects the $4 program to save her between $60 and $100 a month.

“That’s real money,” she said.

The leading retailer’s pricing move is cutting drug costs across the country as competitors such as Costco Wholesale Corp., Target Corp., and Kmart Corp. make similar pricing strategies.

Kmart, for example, is offering 90-day supplies of some generic prescription drugs for $15 at all of its stores.

The generic drugs that are offered under the program account for about 1-in-4 of all prescription drug orders at Wal-Mart.

The program is limited to in-store business, meaning that prescription drug pick-ups must happen at the store. The company hasn’t yet extended the $4 price to mail-ins.

As part of the company’s focus on generic drugs, it has one employee at each pharmacy designated to work with people on the the federal government’s Medicare Part D drug coverage requirements.

Open enrollment for Part D began Wednesday for 38 million Americans, including about 1 million in Washington and Idaho.