DEERFIELD, Ill. — Tens of thousands of pharmacy patients took advantage of Walgreen Co.’s January promotion of its Prescription Savings Club (PSC) in the first days of the new year.

Tens of thousands of pharmacy patients took advantage of Walgreen Co.’s January promotion of its Prescription Savings Club (PSC) in the first days of the new year.

The promotion offers a way for patients with pharmacy benefit plans managed by Express Scripts Inc. to avoid disruption caused by the PBM’s no longer offering network access to Walgreens pharmacies. The promotion, which lowers the PSC enrollment fee during January, is part of a national effort by Walgreens to help patients who are covered by an Express Scripts pharmacy network to continue using Walgreens when possible or make a smooth transition to another community pharmacy.

Express Scripts stopped providing in-network coverage of prescriptions filled at Walgreens as of the new year.

"We value each and every Walgreens customer and are frustrated with Express Scripts’ decision to reject our very serious offer in December in an effort to avoid patient disruption," said Walgreens president of pharmacy, health and wellness solutions and services Kermit Crawford. "We apologize to our patients for the disruption caused by Express Scripts’ stance and are offering a discount in the cost of enrolling in our Prescription Savings Club. In our stores, pharmacists are reporting that our customers covered by Express Scripts plans are responding in significant numbers and choosing to stay with Walgreens."