Walmart Pharmacy Adds Express Lanes to Its App

Walmart pharmacy customers using its mobile app can quickly refill and pick up prescriptions with the upgraded capabilities of the retailer’s app.

Now, pharmacy customers can refill scripts, track their order status, and view pricing and pickup details when using Walmart’s app. Plus, once their order has been placed, they can use new “express lanes” for easy pickup.

“What our Pharmacy business is likely most well-known for is our $4 prescription program that has saved our customers nearly $5 billion,” said Paul Beahm, senior vice president, Walmart Health and Wellness Operations, Bentonville, AR. “Starting today, we’ll be known for saving them more than just money. By developing and combining the best of our app with a service that our customers depend on daily, we’re driving change that makes living better easier.”

Related article: How Walmart plans to save on generics

The new capabilities will start to roll out to Walmart customers in March, and the retail chain expects them to be available in nearly all of Walmart’s 4,700 stores by this fall.

“These capabilities are the latest example of how we’re bringing together all of the conveniences of Walmart-great stores, convenient pickup, easy checkout and a top-notch app-to deliver one seamless shopping experience for customers,” said Daniel Eckert, senior vice president, Walmart Services.

While Walgreens, CVS Health and Rite Aid also have mobile apps that allow customers to quickly refill and pay for prescriptions, Walmart’s differs in that it offers the express lane for pickup. CVS Pay, launched last summer, uses CVS Health’s own mobile payment system, instead of using Apple Pay or another service.

Related article: Walmart ordered to pay pharmacist $31 million for wrongful termination

These are the steps pharmacy customers take to complete a transaction via the Walmart app:

• Open the Walmart app and tap “prescription ready for pickup.” Enter a PIN or use Touch ID to activate the camera.

• Scan the code displayed at the register, connecting the app.

• The associate delivers the prescription. The payment is processed via Walmart Pay and an eReceipt is sent to the app.

While announcing its new faster pharmacy capabilities, Walmart also said it is adding an express lane for Money Services customers who use its app.

Click here to download the Drug Topics app