Rite Aid Pharmacy has chosen Buffalo as one of four test markets for a new customer rewards program.

The Pennsylvania-based drugstore chain rolled out its free “wellness +” program here Monday. It allows members to earn rewards points by making purchases, then cash them in for free health screenings and discounts.

Upon joining, program members receive around-the-clock, toll-free telephone access to a Rite Aid pharmacist and 10 percent off Rite Aid brand products and other discounts.

Members will earn one point for every dollar spent on purchases other than prescriptions. Once a member racks up 500 points, he will receive a certificate toward a free health screening. The certificate can be used toward such things as free glucose and cholesterol readings.

Blood work screening will be done at local laboratories, which will send the results to the Rite Aid store for pickup. There are about 80 Rite Aid pharmacies in the Buffalo Niagara region.

The rewards program is a response to customer requests for help managing “their own health needs and real pharmacy and wellness benefits,” according to John Learish, Rite Aid senior vice president of marketing.

The program is also being rolled out in Greensboro, N. C., Harrisburg, Pa., and San Diego.

The four cities were chosen because of their representative nature of all of the chain’s operating regions. Sales trends, the number of stores concentrated in each city, market share and the stores’ ability to track data also played a role in test market selection.