DEERFIELD, Ill. - Walgreen Co., the nation's largest drugstore chain, said Thursday it will stop filling prescriptions for members of Midwest Health Plan on July 1, citing what it called inadequate pharmacy reimbursement rates.

The company said it has been in discussions with Dearborn, Mich.-based Midwest Health Plan Inc. on a new rate for months. It called the costs of providing patients with their medication therapy and processing insurance claims "considerable."

"We apologize to our patients who will be inconvenienced by this decision," said Chris Whelan, Walgreens vice president of store operations. "But current payments from the plan don't adequately reimburse us for the services we provide."

He said the company remains committed to working with Midwest Health Plan and is optimistic its pharmacies will rejoin the plan at a future date.

A Midwest Health Plan spokesman did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment.

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Associated Press

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