Walmart has begun integrating prescription medications into its delivery offerings in six states, with plans to expand to 49 states by the end of January 2025. Customers in Arkansas, Missouri, New York, Nevada, South Carolina and Wisconsin can now add their prescriptions to orders placed online or via the Walmart app.
When the program is fully deployed, customers will be able to choose from a suite of delivery options that include same-day scheduled delivery, on-demand delivery and express delivery within 30 minutes. New and existing insurance plans will be applied to these transactions, just as they would when picking up a prescription in-store. Delivery is free for members of the Walmart+ membership program; non-members will be charged $9.95 per order. Nearly 4,600 Walmart locations have pharmacies.
“By combining pharmacy delivery into a single order, we’re strengthening our commitment to providing everything [customers] need, whenever and wherever they need it,” said Tom Ward, EVP and Chief Ecommerce Officer at Walmart U.S. in a statement. “If you’re sick, we can deliver the necessary medicine along with everything else you need to feel better: cough drops, a heating pad, blanket and orange juice.”
Walmart has instituted procedures to have prescription medications verified by licensed pharmacists as well as measures for HIPAA-compliant transport from store to door. Medications are securely packed in tamper-evident packaging, and customers can track their orders in real time. Upon delivery, customers will receive a photo confirmation via the Walmart app and their email.
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The move marks yet another salvo in Walmart’s ongoing battle with Amazon for the hearts and dollars of Americans. Amazon has been making big moves in the realm of prescription delivery and healthcare for several years now, most recently announcing plans to expand its same-day Rx delivery service to reach nearly half of the country by next year.
