Walgreens donating $1 million in aid to hurricane-impacted communities
The company is also working to donate products and essentials such as bottled water, consumables, and health and hygiene items.
Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Walgreens is supporting storm relief efforts in communities across Florida, Puerto Rico and other areas impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona by contributing $1 million in aid, including $500,000 each to the Florida Disaster Fund and the American Red Cross Hurricane Fund.
The American Red Cross donation goes to help all impacted communities in the aftermath of the hurricanes and will include aid to impacted regions across Puerto Rico following Hurricane Fiona, which made landfall two weeks ago.
Walgreens said it's also continuing to work with both organizations as well as community partners to donate products and essentials such as bottled water, consumables, and health and hygiene items.
The company is also making disaster support services available to Walgreens team members who may be displaced or in need of additional support.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
In the coming days, Walgreens customers will be able to make donations at checkout at any Walgreens store nationwide. All proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross Hurricane Fund.
As the largest drugstore chain in Florida, the vast majority of Walgreens' 820-plus stores statewide are open, the company said.
To help support locations that remain temporarily closed due to power outages or other damage, the company has been working to deploy mobile pharmacy trailers to help serve customers and patients, while teams work to reopen impacted locations as quickly and safely as possible. Nearly all Walgreens locations in Puerto Rico are open.
Roz Brewer, CEO, Walgreens Boots Alliance, said the company's thoughts are with those impacted by the storms.
"We're extremely grateful to our countless team members who have been working tirelessly to ensure our patients and customers have access to the medications, products and healthcare services they need during this difficult time," she said.
THE LARGER TREND
As Florida and other regions of the U.S. deal with the fallout from the devastation, insurers are stepping forward in a number of ways, from authorizing prescription refills and waiving prior authorizations to adding emergency and support services.
For example, UnitedHealthcare, the nation's largest insurer, has activated an emotional support line Monday through Friday that caters to anyone in need from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT. UHC is also offering exceptions on early prescription refills for members and waiving authorization transfers for in-network skilled nursing facilities.
Aetna, owned by CVS Health, is expanding eligibility for its Resources for Living program. The program, typically only available to Aetna's Medicare Advantage members and their families, connects members to community resources. The insurer will also expand its phone-based mental health support and add a dedicated crisis support website.
Humana, meanwhile, said it would be waiving requirements for primary care referrals and prior authorizations for affected members, while Cigna said it will lift some medical and pharmacy benefit restrictions for the duration of the disaster.
The Guardian reported that even though Ian has weakened, central Florida will continue to experience record levels of river flooding. The recovery is expected to cost insurers more than $37 billion.
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com
