Publix pharmacies now offer biometric health screenings

The Publix Pharmacy chain said on Monday that it is now offering biometric screenings at its more than 970 pharmacy locations nationwide.

The screenings are available to customers age 18 and over. They are designed to assist patients in understanding their individual risks for developing diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and other chronic conditions.

The screenings include a glucose screening, lipid panel and body mass index (BMI) measurement, among other gauges.

The pharmacies will not be able to directly bill insurance companies. Pharmacists recommend that individual customers contact insurance providers themselves to find out whether plan policies and reimbursement practices cover the health screenings.

Customers need not make an appointment for the biometric screenings. Health professionals do recommend that people fast 8 to 12 hours before they complete glucose and lipid-panel screenings. A pharmacist will be available to provide a consultation a few minutes after the test, as the results are quickly available.

“As both a supermarket and pharmacy, we are uniquely positioned to assist our customers in their overall health and wellness goals,” Maria Brous, Publix's media and community relations director, said. “Biometric screenings are an additional service we provide to our customers and associates in a convenient location. We respect the time of our customers and continue to build on a strong relationship between patient and pharmacy.”