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Inside This Issue - News
Even though it was not invited to the White House health care summit earlier this year, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores continues to work with the Obama administration to ensure that officials understand the role that community pharmacy can play in the nation’s revamped health care system. Pharmacy groups earlier this month hailed a federal judge for temporarily blocking a Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement cut in Washington state. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is promoting itself as a health care solution for businesses in ways that could increase the pressure on chain drug retailers. Walgreen Co.’s Take Care Clinics will provide free health care services throughout the remainder of 2009 to patients who lose their jobs. Former MasterCard International executive Harry Totonis took over as president and chief executive officer of Surescripts earlier this month. Rite Aid Corp. has outlined efforts that management expects to significantly improve the company’s operating results. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Food Marketing Institute this month filed a motion seeking to prevent average wholesale price (AWP) cuts in the First DataBank Inc. and Medi-Span Inc. lawsuit settlements. The cuts would dramatically reduce pharmacy reimbursement. Chuck Fehlig and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. have parted ways. Most of CVS Caremark Corp.’s employer clients say they are more interested in changing health plan participants’ behavior and improving engagement than in programs that save them money by simply shifting costs to members, according to the company’s latest client survey.
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