Walmart offers seniors lower copays, angers local pharmacists

Neighborhood pharmacists are incensed at Walmart’s new Medicare prescription-drug joint venture with Humana, which would charge seniors lower copayments if they purchase their prescriptions at a Walmart or Sam’s Club store.

Joseph Harmison, president of the National Community Pharmacists Association, said in a statement, “This is simply Walmart’s latest ‘loss leader,’ intended to bring more people through its doors at the expense of patient care and quality customer service.” He called the plan coercive and said it will penalize seniors who wish to purchase their prescriptions at neighborhood pharmacies.

For its part, Walmart argues it is merely trying to make drugs more accessible for those who need them.