The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding its partnership with Walgreens Boots Alliance to better coordinate medication and immunization histories of the nation’s veterans.
The new “VA-Walgreens exchange” enables VA doctors to “easily view medications directly that are prescribed to VA-enrolled patients by community providers and filled at Walgreens pharmacies.”
Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. It is, however, a much needed endorsement of Walgreens systems at a time the drugstore chain has been spending hundreds of millions of dollars upgrading its health information technology in the face of competition from rival CVS Health and the online retailer Amazon.
Walgreens has been facing questions and criticism from analysts and investors wondering how the brick-and-mortar retailer will effectively compete should Amazon expand its presence in healthcare. Amazon earlier this year bought the online pharmacy PillPack.
The VA said it is expanding its community care program and working to refine “its ability to track medication prescribed by community providers.”
“This arrangement is the first of its kind and it’s a strong collaboration,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said of the Walgreens partnership. “Partnerships like this will help VA continue to improve the way we care for Veterans.”
More closely tracking prescription drug use is critical these days, particularly given the opioid addiction epidemic. The partnership will help ensure patients are getting care in the right place, in the right time and in the right amount, those involved say.
“This interface gives VA providers seamless visibility into patients’ prescription and immunization history, and, along with our pharmacists, to help identify and close any gaps in care,” said Richard Ashworth, Walgreens president of pharmacy and retail operations.
The VA said its partnership with Walgreens dates back five years and includes efforts to provide flu shots at “no cost for enrolled Veterans” and a program to improve vaccination rates.
“Prior to the arrangement, VA providers would ask patients to inform them about medications filled at Walgreens,” the VA said. “With the VA-Walgreens exchange, VA providers can now easily view medications directly that are prescribed to VA-enrolled patients by community providers and filled at Walgreens pharmacies.”
