Publix Pharmacy Fills 100 Millionth Free Prescription

Program helps customers afford critical medications, regardless of insurance coverage

LAKELAND, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Publix Pharmacy recently filled its 100 millionth free prescription as part of its free medication program.

“We are proud to provide a service that helps our customers afford their medications,” said Publix Vice President of Pharmacy Dain Rusk. “As the cost of health care continues to rise, this program has become even more important to our customers and our communities. Too often, high prescription costs prevent people from taking medication as prescribed. When medications are free or available at a greatly reduced cost, that barrier is lifted, and our customers can get the care they need.”

The free medication program began in 2007. It includes 14-day supplies of four oral antibiotics, as well as 90-day supplies of maintenance medications used to treat high blood pressure and diabetes. Customers simply need to provide their Publix pharmacist with a prescription for medications covered in the program, and it will be filled for free. There is no limit to the number of free prescriptions customers can receive, and the free medications are provided regardless of insurance coverage.

According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, providing free medications significantly improved adherence to prescriptions by patients who previously could not afford their prescriptions. An oft-cited 2005 study in the New England Journal of Medicine estimates non-adherence to medications results in more than 125,000 deaths and $100 million in health care costs.

A second low-cost prescription program provides customers with 90-day supplies of commonly prescribed medications for $7.50, including treatments for cholesterol, mental health, arthritis, gastrointestinal issues and more. Publix Pharmacy believes that lower out-of-pocket costs help patients take their medications as prescribed, improving the health and wellness of communities it serves.

For more information about Publix’s free medication program and the list of free medications, please visit publix.com/pharmacyservices.

Publix is privately owned and operated by its more than 200,000 employees, with 2018 sales of $36.1 billion. Currently, Publix has 1,239 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. For 22 consecutive years, the company has been named one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, and Publix ranked No. 1 on Fortune’s inaugural list of Best Big Companies to Work For in 2019. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business. For more information, visit the company’s website, corporate.publix.com.