Building upon its commitment to provide convenient, compassionate and
confidential support and resources to HIV patients needing to manage
their disease and live well, Walgreens (NYSE: WAG)(NASDAQ: WAG)
announced plans to work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) to develop an innovative medication therapy management
(MTM) program to help improve outcomes for HIV patients. The multi-year
program will examine the impact of MTM intervention in the community
pharmacy setting, with Walgreens anticipating to provide nearly $1
million in in-kind services. The initiative was announced by HHS
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at the International AIDS Conference in
Washington, D.C. this week.
“Investing in public-private initiatives is key in the fight against
HIV/AIDS. This collaboration will offer insight into how pharmacists and
other providers can help patients living with HIV/AIDS stay on their
medication and in care, and ultimately improve health outcomes,” said
Secretary Sebelius.
In a number of markets across the country, Walgreens pharmacists at
select HIV Centers of Excellence (COE) would work with a total of 1,000
patients as part of this pilot. These locations are staffed with
specially-trained pharmacists who work closely with patients to offer
guidance and support with their medication therapy. Under the plan, the
innovative public-private initiative would include an initial
comprehensive medication review and quarterly MTM. Other COE services
including refill reminders, help with managing side effects and
navigating insurance benefits will also be provided on a monthly basis.
Pilot data will be used to measure the benefits and costs associated
with a pharmacy-based program. Patient participation is voluntary and
once select locations are identified, the program is expected to launch
January 1, 2013.
“Walgreens community pharmacists are a valued part of the health care
team for thousands of HIV patients coast to coast, and this new program
can help elevate the importance and effectiveness of the meaningful
patient-pharmacist relationship,” said Kermit Crawford, Walgreens
president of pharmacy, health and wellness. “By developing these
relationships and closely studying how they impact outcomes for HIV
patients, this collaboration will put community pharmacy in a great
position to be even more effective and relevant when it comes to
retention in care for those with chronic conditions.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an
estimated 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV. Walgreens
has supported people living with HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the
epidemic more than 30 years ago through its ability to offer accessible
health and wellness guidance to patients nationwide. With more than 500
HIV COEs at its drugstores in communities highly impacted by the complex
condition, Walgreens is committed to helping drive improved health
outcomes through its retail locations and collaborations with national
health organizations including CDC and HHS.
Walgreens HIV Centers of Excellence
These locations reach nearly 90 percent of the U.S. HIV population. In
addition to delivering patient-focused care, specially-trained
pharmacists at these locations reach nearly 90 percent of the U.S. HIV
population and provide synchronized refills, refill reminders and help
identify financial support programs. Walgreens COE pharmacy staff also
receives additional education and training about cultural and social
issues and challenges related to HIV/AIDS. To learn more about Walgreens
HIV services and find a COE near you, visit hiv.walgreens.com.
HIV Testing
Last month, Walgreens announced its participation in a new two-year
pilot program with the CDC to help connect more people with HIV to care
by expanding the role of the pharmacist beyond immunizations and health
tests to include HIV testing. The CDC plans to use pilot results from
select pharmacies and in-store clinics in urban and rural areas
identified as highly impacted by HIV to develop a model that pharmacists
and nurse practitioners can use to implement HIV testing throughout the
nation.
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Testing is free to those getting tested at select Walgreens pharmacies
in Chicago and Washington, D.C., and a select Take Care Clinic in
Lithonia, Ga.
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Walgreens pharmacists and Take Care nurse practitioners are trained to
deliver confidential HIV testing and counseling.
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If a preliminary positive is identified, the provider will refer the
patient to a local health care provider for confirmatory testing and
care. They will also be given a list of community based organizations
to help address other health or social issues.
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In the first 60 days of testing, more than 100 tests were administered
with four preliminary positives.
Walgreens, along with Greater Than AIDS, a coalition of public and
private sector partners united in response to the domestic epidemic,
teamed up this year with local health departments and AIDS organizations
to allow them to provide free HIV testing at 47 Walgreens stores in 20
cities across the nation in support of National HIV Testing Day. From
June 27-29, more than 1,500 HIV tests were administered with 25
preliminary positives.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72
billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com)
vision is to become America’s first choice for health and daily living.
Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most
convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and
trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and
advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy
services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail
service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health
outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care
organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public
sector. The company operates 7,907 drugstores in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a
Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager
of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care
clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
