WBA maintains W. Va. pharmacy network through Rite Aid transfer
West Virginia public employees can continue using their neighborhood Rite Aid drug stores as their in-network pharmacy network after all 103 stores in the state were purchased by Walgreens in February. Under a recent agreement, these Rite Aid stores will remain in-network for West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency members as the stores convert to Walgreens pharmacies, Walgreens announced Monday.
“We look forward to welcoming West Virginia Rite Aid customers to Walgreens,” Paul Blankenship, regional vice president, Walgreens, said. “We’ve been a trusted brand since 1901 and we’re proud to serve West Virginia, as we expand our presence through convenient Rite Aid locations in communities across the state.”
In addition, while West Virginia pharmacy customers will see no interruption in service at Rite Aid locations, all 15 Walgreens stores in the state will also join PEIA’s pharmacy network effective April 1.
PEIA’s 160,000 members include state employees, teachers, employees of state colleges, universities and numerous local governmental agencies, as well as their dependents and retirees under age 65.
Nationally, 1,932 Rite Aid drugstores are being acquired by Walgreens. While external signage remains Rite Aid for the time being, stores will be converted to the Walgreens brand in phases over time.
The 15 West Virginia Walgreens stores that join the PEIA network on April 1 are located in Morgantown, Princeton, Beaver, Elkins, Martinsburg, Cross Lanes, Barboursville, Beckley, Huntington, Summersville, Bridgeport, Grafton, Charleston, Hurricane and Charles Town.
Rite Aid last week reported the successful asset transfer of more than 85% of the stores the company is selling to Walgreens Boots Alliance. As of March 2, Rite Aid has transferred 1,651 stores and related assets to WBA, and has received cash proceeds of $3.6 billion.
Rite Aid expects to complete the store transfer process in the spring of 2018.
“We look forward to welcoming West Virginia Rite Aid customers to Walgreens,” Paul Blankenship, regional vice president, Walgreens, said. “We’ve been a trusted brand since 1901 and we’re proud to serve West Virginia, as we expand our presence through convenient Rite Aid locations in communities across the state.”
In addition, while West Virginia pharmacy customers will see no interruption in service at Rite Aid locations, all 15 Walgreens stores in the state will also join PEIA’s pharmacy network effective April 1.
PEIA’s 160,000 members include state employees, teachers, employees of state colleges, universities and numerous local governmental agencies, as well as their dependents and retirees under age 65.
Nationally, 1,932 Rite Aid drugstores are being acquired by Walgreens. While external signage remains Rite Aid for the time being, stores will be converted to the Walgreens brand in phases over time.
The 15 West Virginia Walgreens stores that join the PEIA network on April 1 are located in Morgantown, Princeton, Beaver, Elkins, Martinsburg, Cross Lanes, Barboursville, Beckley, Huntington, Summersville, Bridgeport, Grafton, Charleston, Hurricane and Charles Town.
Rite Aid last week reported the successful asset transfer of more than 85% of the stores the company is selling to Walgreens Boots Alliance. As of March 2, Rite Aid has transferred 1,651 stores and related assets to WBA, and has received cash proceeds of $3.6 billion.
Rite Aid expects to complete the store transfer process in the spring of 2018.