With brief, occasional, italicized and sometimes gratuitous commentary…
• CNBC reports that Walmart says it will "offer a less expensive version of insulin that could better fit into the budgets of millions of Americans who don’t have health insurance or struggle to pay for the lifesaving diabetes drug.
"Starting this week, the retailer will sell an exclusive private-label version of analog insulin, ReliOn NovoLog, to adults and children who have a prescription. The drug will be available at its membership-based Sam’s Club in mid-July. The insulin will cost about $73 for a vial or about $86 for a package of prefilled insulin pens."
The story says that "the insulin is the latest addition to Walmart’s private brand of diabetes products, ReliOn. It already sells a low-price version of insulin for about $25 as part of the line, but that is an older formulation that some doctors and advocates say is not as effective at managing blood sugar swings as newer versions of insulin, called analogs."
Dr. Cheryl Pegus, Walmart’s executive vice president of health and wellness, says that "the price difference with branded competitors will be as much as $101 per vial of insulin or up to $251 per pack of prefilled insulin pens."
Yikes. When Walmart says always low prices, it means ALWAYS low prices.
• Walmart has announced the launch of a new site designed "to help veterans and military spouses, whether early career, mid-career, or experienced professionals, 'Find-a-Future' and achieve their goals. Walmart associates and non-associates can register for free on the platform, use tools to audit their current skills and experience, and connect to the right partners to help future seekers build a roadmap across three paths," which include helping them find a job at Walmart, identifying educational paths that will help them achieve their goals, and growing their own entrepreneurial businesses.
