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Retail News Breaks Archives In one break in their ongoing dispute, Walgreen Co. and Express Scripts Inc. have agreed to allow members of two health benefit plans in Puerto Rico to retain access to Walgreens pharmacies. Pharmacy theft is on the rise among crimes against retailers, according to a new study by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA). The nation's three biggest drug store chains, along with the American Pharmacists Association, are highlighting the value of the local pharmacist during October for the annual American Pharmacists Month campaign. Expanding its menu of mobile pharmacy services, Walgreen Co. has launched Refill Reminder Text Alerts. U.S. prescription sales through primary health care distributors edged up in 2010, and generic drugs and specialty medications accounted for a bigger share of those sales versus a year ago, according to the Healthcare Distribution and Management Association (HDMA). Pending federal legislation aimed at fostering a safe and secure prescription drug distribution system has drawn different positions from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius received a flu vaccination at a Chicago-area Walgreens store to highlight the importance of flu season preparedness. Edith Rosato, president of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation, is slated to leave that post next month to become chief executive officer of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP). For a Senate hearing, the National Community Pharmacists Association provided some recommendations on ways to cut waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefits program. Solid gains in both the front end and the pharmacy fueled another month of same-store sales growth for Walgreen Co. in September. MinuteClinic has opened its first retail health clinic locations in the Savannah, Ga., region. Revenue for the Jean Coutu Group's franchised store network climbed for the fiscal 2012 second quarter, and same-store sales inched up despite lackluster growth in the pharmacy. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores' advertising campaign in opposition to the proposed merger of Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions has now hit print. After a seven-month search, Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. has appointed Domenic Pilla as president and chief executive officer. Ritzman Pharmacies Inc. has wrapped up its acquisition of Buehler Food Markets Inc.'s in-store pharmacies. Retail pharmacy industry veteran Warren Jeffery plans to retire from Katz Group Canada Ltd./Rexall at the end of this month. The nation's biggest retail pharmacy chains are wasting no time in expanding their options as the Medicare Part D plan selling season gets under way. Rite Aid Corp. is taking its flu shot message to the masses — that is, the masses of commuters filing through Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal.
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