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Retail News Breaks Archives The Supreme Court's ruling to let stand the major elements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) health reform law drew fire from retail industry organizations. Community pharmacy sales are still lagging those of other retail sectors in Canada, where provincial reforms are squeezing prescription drug business. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) aims to push ahead with efforts to gain full implementation of "pharmacy-friendly" provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the major components of the health care reform law. CVS/pharmacy has revamped its year-old Beauty Board, a panel of beauty experts who provide interactive content and advice for fans of the CVS Beauty Club Facebook page. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has sent a memo to members that gives the upshot of the Supreme Court's complex ruling on the health care reform law. After hearing the first oral arguments in late March, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, the health care reform law championed by the Obama administration. Stephen Gold is slated to join CVS Caremark Corp. early next month as the new chief information officer. Walgreen Co. is participating in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pilot through which it will offer free HIV testing. Walmart it has embarked on what it called a "hiring spree" in Canada, including its pharmacies. Walgreen Co.'s deal to buy a large stake in Alliance Boots, with the aim of acquiring the company later on, could land the U.S. drug chain's shares on the London exchange. Retail pharmacy has the capacity to be one of the drivers of the transformation of health care, says Kathleen Jaeger, senior vice president of pharmacy care and patient advocacy at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. With the fate of the health care reform law hanging in the balance, three of the country’s largest health insurers said they would maintain some Affordable Care Act benefits regardless of how the Supreme Court rules on it. But the companies said they would not continue coverage for pre-existing conditions. As it prepares to launch a new online store, London Drugs is leveraging an e-commerce solution that will enable the western Canada chain to grow across multiple digital channels. Walgreen Co. is facilitating access to immunizations for whooping cough at its drug stores in Kansas and Missouri, where authorities are reporting epidemic levels of the highly contagious respiratory infection. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation has launched the Pharmacy Blood Pressure Challenge, a screening and education initiative that urges pharmacists to help prevent and control high blood pressure.
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