Walgreen-Express Scripts spat leads millions of consumers to new pharmacies

A Walgreen official maintained a defense of the split even as rival drug stores have ramped up their marketing efforts to attract Express Scripts customers.

The New York Times: Walgreen Is Firm On End Of Express Scripts Deal
The chief executive of the Walgreen Company defended the chain's decision to end its relationship with the prescription benefit manager Express Scripts, even as rivals have stepped up their efforts to attract pharmacy customers covered by Express Scripts plans (Japsen, 1/11).

San Francisco Chronicle: Walgreens Spat Sends Millions To New Pharmacies
San Francisco resident Anne Crawford has been putting off getting her prescriptions filled because she was hoping a contract dispute between Walgreen Co. and a firm that handles drug benefits for millions of customers would be resolved.  But that has not been the case. Negotiations broke down and since Jan. 1, Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain, has refused to do business with Express Scripts Inc., a company that manages the drug benefits for employers, insurers and other groups. As a result, tens of thousands of Californians, including members of one of California's largest insurers, Anthem Blue Cross, have been unable to get their prescriptions filled at Walgreens, by far the largest pharmacy chain in the Bay Area (Colliver and Pender, 1/12).