Contact: Chris Kofinis 202-486-6422
WakeUpWalMart.com Statement on Wal-Mart’s Misstatements and Exaggerations on Scope of New Drug Plan as reported by today’s New York Times and USA Today
As reported today in the New York Times and USA Today, Wal-Mart needlessly exaggerated the scope and benefits of its low cost drug plan that will begin today with a one-city pilot program at 65 stores in Florida. While Wal-Mart stated yesterday that “nearly 300 generic drugs” are included, in truth, there are only 124 separate medicines on the list. In fact, Wal-Mart overstated the scope of its drug plan by nearly two-thirds. As the New York Times states, “The plan, which is said to cover 300 drugs, includes only about 124 separate medicines in various dosages, like 12 versions of the popular antibiotic Amoxicillin. It leaves out some popular drugs altogether, like the generic version of the cholesterol-lowering treatment Zocor.”
To the millions of uninsured Americans, including the 775,000 hard-working families of Wal-Mart workers who have no company healthcare, this is a cruel attempt to overstate the benefits of a program that, at second glance, has far fewer benefits than expected. More disturbingly, the emerging facts about Wal-Mart’s new drug initiative reflect a consistent public relations strategy, employed throughout the year, to paint a happy face on the more negative effects and initiatives happening at Wal-Mart stores. For example, weeks ago Wal-Mart announced a “mystery” increase in starting wage rates at 1,200 stores, but in fact, the company imposed salary caps on all 1.39 million employees.
The following statement is attributable to Paul Blank, campaign director for WakeUpWalMart.com:
"America must be deeply disappointed to learn today that Wal-Mart has been playing public relations games with the hopes and concerns of many Americans, including the majority of Wal-Mart workers who do not have company health care. As we said yesterday, lowering prices on drugs is a good thing, but intentionally misstating and exaggerating the scope of the plan’s effect by nearly two-thirds is needless and cruel.
We call on Wal-Mart to immediately keep its word to the American people and cover the 291 generic medicines it promised, not just the 124 it turned out to be. The American people and our elected leaders have the right to expect real actions and real promises from Wal-Mart, not more empty publicity stunts meant to repair the company’s faltering public image."
