Final answer:
It is true that the Wellcare preferred pharmacy network includes retailers such as Walgreens, CVS, and grocery chains. Such networks improve access to medications but also raise concerns about costs and economic impacts.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that the Wellcare preferred pharmacy network includes Walgreens, CVS, and many grocery chains as of 2023. Wellcare's pharmacy network often encompasses a wide range of retail locations to provide convenience and accessibility to its members when it comes to filling their prescription drugs. Pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS are commonly included in these networks due to their widespread availability and comprehensive services offered to patients, including consultations with pharmacists.
These broad networks support the public health goal of improving access to medications. However, as noted in the provided context, the introduction of Medicare prescription benefits, which includes developments like Wellcare's preferred pharmacy networks, has been met with critiques focused on the high costs, administrative burdens, and potential inflationary effects on the costs of prescription drugs. A discussion involving the pharmacist and an elderly patient could encompass topics such as plan coverage, cost of medications, and choosing a preferred pharmacy.