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Inside This Issue - News
More than 350 drug chain executives, pharmacists and pharmacy students from across the country took to Capitol Hill earlier this month to lobby lawmakers about the role community pharmacy can play in controlling health care costs. Walgreen Co. is stepping out of the pharmacy benefits management (PBM) business. Until now, chain drug stores have generally not had to cope with the specter of a Walmart pharmacy nearby. Joe Magnacca, who was integral to the renaissance at Duane Reade before its purchase by Walgreen Co., has been named president of daily living products and solutions for Walgreens. The changing retail environment is putting new demands on the supply chain, according to Kantar Retail chief knowledge officer Bryan Gildenberg. AmerisourceBergen Corp. chief executive officer R. David Yost plans to retire from the company on July 1. Rite Aid Corp. pharmacies are carrying specially designed drug disposal envelopes, targeting them to customers who want to safely get rid of unused, outdated or unwanted medications. The dramatic growth of the food and beverages category at drug chains and its intersection with the channel’s wellness positioning will be a focus of this year’s National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference. Prices for branded prescription drugs rose at a faster rate than costs for other medical goods and services over the last four years, according to a federal report. Face-to-face interaction between patients and pharmacists can boost medication adherence and cut costs from the health care system, says Dr. Cheryl Pegus, chief medical officer at Walgreen Co.
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