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Issue 09-28-2015

Role of Rx in Canada’s health care system

Role of Rx in Canada’s health care system

Every year, Canadians, who have access to one of the most advanced health care systems in the world, spend more than $200 billion on health care, $34 billion of which is on ­pharmaceuticals. Although medical services are socialized, government-supported drug benefits are limited to children, the elderly and the poor. In this regard, drug funding

New structure reflects transformation of Rite Aid

New structure reflects transformation of Rite Aid

CAMP HILL, Pa. — A new chapter opened for Rite Aid Corp. in its fiscal 2016 second quarter, as the company began reporting financial results under a new structure that incorporates recently acquired pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) EnvisionRx. Going forward, Rite Aid will report results in two business segments: retail pharmacy (including Rite Aid drug

Rite Aid fine-tunes outlook for current fiscal year

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. trimmed its full-year earnings guidance to reflect pharmacy margin pressure and lower expectations for same-store sales. The company also pruned its revenue forecast. “Our guidance reflects our expectations for continued reimbursement rate pressure and the benefits from the McKesson purchasing agreement, as well as the anticipated benefits of

Clout of Barra, Foulkes recognized

Clout of Barra, Foulkes recognized

NEW YORK — Chain drug executives Helena Foulkes and Ornella Barra are among the “Most Powerful Women” in business listed by Fortune magazine. Foulkes, president of CVS/pharmacy, was ranked 14th on the list of 51 women in the U.S. Barra, president and chief executive officer of global wholesale and international retail at Walgreens Boots Alliance

Uninsured rate continues to fall

WASHINGTON — Supporters of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) hailed a recent Census Bureau report that the percentage of people without health insurance coverage declined by 2.9 percentage points last year, from 13.3% to 10.4%. That’s a reduction of 8.8 million people, the biggest one-year decline ever, and part of the reason

Obama makes choice for FDA chief

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration’s current deputy commissioner for medical products and tobacco is likely to become the organization’s next commissioner. Dr. Robert Califf, a cardiologist and clinical researcher long affiliated with Duke University, was nominated by President Obama earlier this month to head up the FDA. Though Califf must face Senate confirmation

Ulta makes impact on ‘fun side’ of beauty care

Ulta makes impact on ‘fun side’ of beauty care

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Ulta Beauty’s chief executive officer, Mary Dillon, has more to celebrate than the company’s 25th birthday. The company is growing at a rate enviable in retailing today, and it is on virtually every beauty care brand’s wish list. The financial community considers Ulta Beauty and Dillon among the best in the business.

Ausili, Brainard join staff at NACDS

ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) announced a pair of personnel moves this month, including the appointment of Jason Ausili as director, pharmacy affairs, effective September 28. On September 21, Colin Brainard joined the association as its director of federal ­government affairs. Ausili comes to NACDS from Target, where he

Neighbourhood Pharmacies enhances events

TORONTO — The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (Neighbourhood Pharmacies) announced earlier this month significant improvements to its annual events program, as well as event ­highlights. The first major change to the events program occurs at the fall Executive Summit, October 28 to October 29, which will now host the association’s Strategic Appointments sessions. This

Albertsons, McKesson expand deal

SAN FRANCISCO and BOISE, Idaho — McKesson Corp. and Albertsons Cos. announced the signing of a five-year distribution agreement to include the sourcing and distribution of both branded and generic ­pharmaceuticals. As part of the agreement, which goes into effect April 1, 2016, Albertsons’ network of nearly 1,700 pharmacies will benefit from McKesson’s proprietary OneStop

Study: Narrow networks can raise adherence rates

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — A CVS Health Research Institute review of pharmacy claims for more than 200,000 patients found an association between narrow pharmacy networks and improved medication ­adherence. The study was the first to evaluate the impact of narrow pharmacy networks — which incentivize plan members to use in-network pharmacies — on medication adherence. Such

Proper use of Rxs cuts other health care costs

ARLINGTON, Va. — An examination of data on more than 1.5 million Medicaid enrollees found that when prescription drugs are taken appropriately as prescribed by a physician there is a reduction of other medical costs for certain Medicaid populations. The research, undertaken to examine the impact of changes in prescription drug use on medical costs,

Robinson, former Perry CEO, dies at 85

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. — Jack Robinson, who was the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Perry Drug Stores, died earlier this month. He was 85. Robinson founded Perry in 1957, when he opened his first store in Pontiac, Mich. Perry grew into the largest chain in Michigan and the 16th-largest nationwide, with 225 stores

National ad campaign to tout Health Mart

SAN FRANCISCO — Health Mart is launching a national radio and digital advertising campaign to attract more patients to its drug stores. The McKesson Corp. pharmacy franchise said earlier this month that the campaign will target every market with a Health Mart pharmacy — the independent pharmacy network has more than 4,000 stores in all

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