VA, Walgreens Announce Collaboration

In an effort to improve care coordination for veterans, the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has announced it will work with Walgreens to coordinate patient and pharmaceutical care for VA-enrolled patients. 

The VA is continually refining its ability to track medications prescribed by community providers. Prior to the collaboration between the VA and Walgreens, the VA would ask patients to inform them about medications filled at Walgreens pharmacies. With the VA-Walgreens collaboration, VA providers will be able to see the entire medication and immunization history of VA-enrolled patients who receive their services at Walgreens.

“This arrangement is the first of its kind and it’s a strong collaboration,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a press statement. “Partnerships like this will help VA continue to improve the way we care for veterans.”

For the past 5 years the VA and Walgreens have partnered and provided flu shots at no cost for enrolled veterans, which has improved vaccination rates and access to immunizations. 

The VA exchanges standards-based medical information with participating community health care partners like Walgreens to ensure the best possible care coordination and medication management. Currently, VA exchanges health information with over 170 community health care partners, representing 1288 hospitals, 537 Federally Qualified Health Centers, 261 nursing homes, 8649 pharmacies (including over 8000 Walgreens pharmacies), and over 22,431 clinics.—Julie Gould