Encouraging more of our members to use Kaiser Permanente pharmacies and pharmacy mail-order services is the goal of a member outreach campaign we’re launching soon.
The outreach will take place before a pharmacy network change in which 10 pharmacies — all within 3 to 5 miles of a Kaiser Permanente pharmacy — will no longer be part of our Core HMO network. Hours at our nearby pharmacies are being extended to align with the hours at the network pharmacies we’re eliminating.
The outreach will include notifying members about the changes, promoting use of our pharmacy mail-order services, and assisting members who need help transferring their prescriptions to Kaiser Permanente.
Improving care coordination and cost savings
When members use Kaiser Permanente pharmacy services:
- Our providers and pharmacists can view members’ complete record of prescription use, expanding our ability to coordinate care. This ensures that members are treated safely, avoiding dangerous drug interactions and other safety issues.
- Our pharmacy staff works with our providers to prescribe less expensive generics when medically appropriate, saving our members out-of-pocket expenses.
- Kaiser Permanente can negotiate better drug prices in the national marketplace, which helps us offer more competitive prices locally.
Kaiser Permanente Washington members currently use about 300 network pharmacies, and 40% of pharmacy users utilize our mail-order service.
Which plans are affected by this pharmacy network change?
- Commercial HMO plans
- Medicare HMO plans that do not include Part D coverage
(Access PPO and Options plans are NOT affected)
Which pharmacies are being eliminated from the network and when?
August 1, 2019
Walgreens #21167, 747 Broadway Ave., Seattle
Community Health Care Pharmacy Hilltop, 1202 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma
September 1, 2019
Walgreens #13769, 400 E. 5th Ave., #102, Spokane
Rite Aid #05262, 1323 East Main Ave., Puyallup
September 26, 2019
Sav-On Pharmacy #1268, 3010 E. 57th Ave., Spokane
Sav-On Pharmacy #206, 9001 N. Indian Trail Road, Spokane
Walgreens #5913, 7905 N. Division St., Spokane
Walgreens #7034, 12 E. Empire Ave., Spokane
Safeway Pharmacy #1299, 10100 N. Newport Hwy., Spokane
Walgreens #5914, 15510 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley
Change in covered services
September 26, 2019
Available for filling prescriptions for acute medications only:
Walgreens #1993, 12312 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley
