Northwell Health and Walgreens Announce Five-Year Partnership

According to a Sept. 16 press release, New Hyde Park, N.Y.-headquartered Northwell Health and Deerfield, Ill.-headquartered Walgreens have announced a strategic agreement. The release states that “Northwell Health and Walgreens announced today a five-year strategic affiliation aimed at improving the health of populations and advancing health equity throughout New York State.”

That said, “The agreement will explore the common goals of developing innovative healthcare delivery models, offerings and services that better the health of populations and reduce costs of healthcare by advancing the delivery of retail health services in relation to access, quality, equity, satisfaction and efficiency of care.”

Mark Solazzo, Northwell Health’s president of strategic initiatives and CIO was quoted in the release saying that “This affiliation agreement strengthens our resolve and mutual commitment towards community health equity.”

Further, “The collaborative activities being pursued as part of this agreement include digital offerings, retail and specialty pharmacy services. In addition, Walgreens will be offered as an in-network pharmacy provider for Northwell employees. These initiatives are all designed to generate operational synergies and efficiencies consistent with the mission of providing quality, value-based care to patients and consumers throughout the New York state area.”

Northwell telehealth providers are now accessible on the Walgreens Find Care platform across the state of New York, offerings include emergency care services and pediatric specialists. Northwell Health and Walgreens are also said to be exploring a retail health clinic collaboration at certain Walgreens locations throughout the tri-state area, which would create more primary care access for underserved communities.

The release concludes that “Additionally, since September 1, Northwell Health’s employees can fill their non-specialty prescriptions at any Walgreens pharmacy.”

There were no financial disclosures in the release.