Walgreens Health Initiatives Wins First Medical Pharmacy Benefit Contract

Walgreens Health Initiatives has announced that it will provide pharmacy benefit management services for the more than 354,000 members of First Medical Health Plan, a health maintenance organization.

Under the terms of a new contract, Walgreens Health Initiatives, the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) arm of drugstore operator Walgreens, will provide claims processing, specialty pharmacy services, network management and a suite of clinical programs designed to meet the needs of both First Medical and its members.

Francisco Artau, president of First Medical, said: “We selected Walgreens Health Initiatives as our pharmacy benefit manager for a number of reasons, primarily because of its flexibility in tailoring plan designs to specifically fit our needs, all at a reasonable price. We have also been impressed with their implementation team and the detailed process they utilized to ensure a smooth transition.”

Richard Ashworth, executive vice president of PBM services for Walgreens Health Initiatives, said: “We’re excited to have the opportunity to serve a managed care organization as respected as First Medical. Our flexible plan management and clinically focused strategies will enable First Medical to control costs while targeting patient care.”