Walgreens expands partnership with VillageMD

Walgreens Boots Alliance is opening 29 primary care practices with VillageMD in Texas under the Village Medical brand. 

The additional clinics align with plans to open Village Medical sites in more than 30 U.S. markets over the next four years. Beyond that, Walgreens and VillageMD plan to build hundreds more practices.

“This strategic partnership between Walgreens and VillageMD demonstrates our continuing commitment to the care and well-being of our patients, and we’re excited to expand our primary care and pharmacy service offerings in Texas,” Jamie Vortherms, vice president of health care services at Walgreens, said in a statement. “With the opening of these Village Medical at Walgreens locations, we’re providing convenient access to personalized, high quality and coordinated care.”

 

The expansion is part of Walgreens’ $1 billion accelerated investment previously announced. Leveraging pharmacies and physicians under one roof will benefit patients, according to Walgreens. The new locations will be added in Houston, Austin and El Paso, Texas, where roughly 825,000 patients live within five miles of a planned clinic. 

“With Village Medical primary care services and Walgreens pharmacy services delivered through an integrated care model, we’re facilitating regular and direct communication with patients, helping deliver improved health outcomes and affordable care,” said Clive Fields, MD, co-founder and chief medical officer, VillageMD. “We’re pleased to expand these offerings in Texas so residents can manage their chronic conditions and focus on being healthy, active members of their community.”

 

Amy Baxter

Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."

Around the web

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.