MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Need a prescription filled at Walgreens? You might be forced to go somewhere else. Walgreens couldn't reach a deal with a company called Express Scripts. It processes dozens of different brand name and generic medications. It affects nearly everyone under TRICARE, Medicare, and FedEx employees.
"Of course iIdon't like it," said Walgreens customer James Manion. "I think it ought to be my option where I want to go and who I want to see."
Walgreens is losing customers left and right.
"I was really disappointed," said another customer, Jeanna Cantey. "I've been coming to Walgreens for a long time and I'm a transplant patient so I probably have 20 prescriptions."
The nation-wide pharmacy couldn't reach a deal with Express Scripts. Thousands of prescriptions for Express Scripts members are filled at Walgreens in Shelby County. A Walgreens store in the 800-block of Poplar in Collierville fills 800 prescriptions a day.
"I have a large FedEx crew in this town, in this area of Shelby County," said the Walgreens head pharmacist, Brendell Pounders. "TRICARE is processed through Express Scripts so we've lost our TRICARE people and they're very upset."
Who can blame them? James Manion is on TRICARE. He's been filling more than a dozen prescriptions at Walgreens for years.
"It makes you feel kind of bad but what can you do," said Manion. He's been coming to this Walgreens for more than 10 years. That's what bothers Brendell Pounders the most, losing her loyal long-time customers.
"We're very concerned about our customers, that's a big thing for us, customer service. I hate that it happened," said Pounders.
Now that Walgreens does not fill certain prescriptions many customers are forced to go somewhere else like Kroger, and Walgreens is scrambling to keep their customers.
"We're working with them," Pounders said. "We're trying to give them options like our prescription card savings club. It offers a lot of prescriptions on generic and brands at a very good price."
The 24-hour convenience, multiple store locations, and drive-thru are just the few things Cantey will miss the most.
"It's a big deal for me because I know when I go out of town there's always a Walgreens," said Cantey. "It's going to be tough. It's going to be a hard transition for us."
Customers and employees hope an agreement can be reached soon.
