PR: Hispanic Leadership Fund to Walgreens: Dispute Threatens Health Care Options for Millions

Press Release:

The Hispanic Leadership Fund today released a letter from its President Mario H. Lopez, to Walgreens CEO Gregory Wasson, expressing concern over the ongoing dispute.

At a critical time in our nation’s history, millions of patients, including many in underserved communities, are in danger of having health care choices severely affected by the dispute, which has also negatively impacted Walgreens itself.

The text of the letter follows:

Dear Mr. Wasson,

I am writing to respectfully request that you weigh the negative consequences of severing your relationship with Express Scripts and that you reconsider the decision to end Walgreens low-cost prescription drug program.

As the largest drug store chain in America, Walgreens is in a unique position to affect significantly a wide variety of communities. Walgreens position has served its customers well, providing convenient access to important medications for millions of Americans in both affluent and struggling communities. That access is especially important in Hispanic areas, which are traditionally underserved.

Severing your relationship with Express Scripts and their customers would needlessly disenfranchise a large segment of the public from critical health care options. If you follow-through with your plan to stop accepting Express Scripts prescription drug coverage, there may be significant harm to underserved individuals and families across the country.

From our perspective, it would seem that Walgreens, and its customers and shareholders, all have much to gain from negotiating a mutually beneficial agreement with Express Scripts.

I thank you in advance for your consideration of these concerns.

Sincerely,
Mario H. Lopez
President, Hispanic Leadership Fund

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