After more than a two-year hiatus, Kroger is welcoming back Express Scripts customers for health and pharmacy needs. Kroger announced Feb. 5 that an agreement has been reached between itself and Express Scripts,

The two have mended fences after a nasty contract dispute in 2022 caused Kroger pharmacies to go out of network with Express Scripts’ members.

According to Reuters, the grocery retailer notified Express Scripts in September 2022 of its plan to terminate the pharmacy provider agreement for commercial customers because of an “unsustainable” pricing model. Later that year, Kroger Health contracted with Prime Therapeutics, the PBM owned by Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Express Scripts is a major operator whose return to the Kroger Health system is expected to positively impact the supermarket company's results.

The grocery chain has elected to work again with the pharmacy benefits manager after deciding in late 2022 to end their prior contract.

The biggest pharmacy benefit managers have made efforts to improve relationships with pharmacies, health insurers, employers and patients.

The new agreement provides access to prescription medications and health services at the Kroger Family of Pharmacies for Express Scripts customers.