DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walgreens today officially launched its app for Apple Watch that helps people take medications as prescribed through the easy-to-use Pill Reminder and Refill Reminder features. Medication non-adherence is an important issue that adds an estimated $300 billion a year to medical costs in the U.S. The Walgreens App for Apple Watch is currently one of only a few apps that addresses this issue by prompting users to adhere to medication regimens and reminding them when their prescription is due for refill.
Wearable devices can play a key role in helping people take medication as prescribed. The Walgreens App for Apple Watch is designed to help patients manage their medications, whether it is a simple, once-daily reminder or multiple complex drug regimens. The Apple Watch app connects with the user’s Pill Reminders inside the Walgreens iPhone app, and Apple’s “actionable alerts” allow the user to mark a medication as taken or skipped, as well as view which medications might have been missed or may be taken next. Refill Reminders predict when medication may be running low and offer users a one-touch method to initiate a refill. The user will receive a follow-up notification when the medication is ready for pickup.
Walgreens also announced today the planned integration of Balance Rewards with Apple Pay, coming this fall to stores with the launch of rewards support for Apple Pay. Beginning this fall, Apple Pay will provide immediate access to Balance Rewards without separately scanning a Balance Rewards card. Balance Rewards members will have the ability to earn and redeem Balance Rewards points via Apple Pay, the easy, secure and private way to pay.
To get the most out of purchases, users can simply add the Balance Rewards digital card to the Wallet app in iOS 9 and seamlessly use it at checkout with Apple Pay. Members simply hold their iPhone near the contactless reader with a finger on Touch ID and the appropriate rewards information will be sent. On Apple Watch, they just double-click the side button, select their Balance Rewards card, and hold the face of Apple Watch up to the reader.
Additionally, Balance Rewards members will be able to view their current rewards points balance through Apple Pay. The ability to view points directly from the surfaced card provides easier access to loyalty points at checkout and allows users to see how much they can redeem. Apple Pay is easy to set up and users will continue to receive all of the rewards and benefits offered by credit and debit cards. In stores, Apple Pay works with iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch.
“Walgreens apps and services are designed to provide customers with ultimate access, choice and convenience – we want to help remove friction and make the customer experience as simple as possible,” said Sona Chawla, president of digital and chief marketing officer for Walgreens. “Whether that’s launching new wearables technology that promotes adherence and proper health regimens or making it easier, safer, and more private to redeem Balance® Rewards points through mobile payments with Apple Pay, we want to help customers manage their lives.”
For more information on the Walgreens App for Apple Watch, visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/walgreens-pharmacy-clinic/id335364882?mt=8
For more information on Apple Pay, visit: http://www.apple.com/apple-pay/
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), the nation's largest drugstore chain, constitutes the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 8 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,232 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens digital business includes Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com, SkinStore.com and VisionDirect.com. Walgreens also manages more than 400 Healthcare Clinic and provider practice locations around the country.
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