DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) and VillageMD this month announced plans for new Village Medical at Walgreens primary care practices in Texas and Florida.

The companies intend to open more than 20 new practices in the Dallas area over the next year, and 20 in the Tampa area.

WBA recently increased its investment in VillageMD to advance Walgreens’ strategic position in the delivery of value-based primary care.

The investment increases WBA’s stake in VillageMD to 63% from 30%, and paves the way for the opening of at least 600 Village Medical at Walgreens primary care practices in more than 30 U.S. markets by 2025 and 1,000 by 2027, with more than half located in underserved communities.

WBA announced the new investment last month in unveiling an ambitious plan to reinvent itself as an integrated health care company.

A sharper focus on health care will serve as a “new growth engine” for the company, chief executive officer Roz Brewer said in announcing the plan. Central to the plan is a new business segment, Walgreens Health, which will advance WBA’s capabilities in the provision of primary care, post-acute care and home care services.

Walgreens Health will build on its majority stake in VillageMD, a Chicago-based provider of primary care.

The partners opened their first Village Medical at Walgreens practice in Dallas in late October and said several more would follow over the coming weeks. The partners also have clinics in the Texas cities of Houston, Austin and El Paso.

Chronic disease accounts for 75% of Texas health care expenditures, yet many areas lack access to primary care. Texas ranks 47th in the nation in the number of primary care providers accessible to residents, according to the companies.

Tampa-area residents also got their first Village Medical at Walgreens practice in late October. In announcing the opening, the partners noted that the number of Florida residents with multiple chronic diseases is growing. If current trends continue, in 2030, more than 6 million people in Florida will be living with three or more chronic diseases, yet many people lack access to primary care, the companies said.

“Our coordinated model helps to lower costs and improve out-
comes for patients, particularly those with chronic illnesses,” said Patricia Llanes, registered pharmacist at a Tampa-area Walgreens. “Our pharmacy team can help select affordable medication options and have prescriptions ready for patients when they leave the primary care visit, whether for in-store pickup, drive-thru or delivery.”