Wendy future of retail top

Tom Price

Senate confirms Alex Azar as HHS secretary

Senate confirms Alex Azar as HHS secretary

WASHINGTON — Former Eli Lilly and Co. executive Alex Azar has been confirmed by the Senate as the new secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Nominated for the HHS secretary post in November by President Donald Trump, Azar was approved by the Senate on Wednesday in a 55-43 vote, mainly

Senators grill HHS nominee Alex Azar on cutting drug costs

Senators grill HHS nominee Alex Azar on cutting drug costs

WASHINGTON — Alex Azar, a former pharmaceutical executive named by President Trump to be the next Health and Human Services secretary, told senators at a full committee nomination hearing that making prescription drugs more affordable would be one of his top priorities. “Drug prices are too high,” Azar said to the Senate health committee at

Former Lilly exec Alex Azar tabbed to head HHS

Former Lilly exec Alex Azar tabbed to head HHS

WASHINGTON — Biopharmaceutical industry executive Alex Azar has been nominated as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to fill the post vacated by Tom Price. Azar is currently founder and chairman of Seraphim Strategies LLC, an Indianapolis-based consultancy focused on the biopharma and health insurance industries, including biopharmaceutical sales, marketing, pricing,

NACDS keeps pharmacy in D.C. discourse

NACDS keeps pharmacy in D.C. discourse

Amid the political turmoil in Washington and the unpredictability in the health care arena over the Affordable Care Act’s uncertain future, retail pharmacy operators and their customers are fortunate to have a powerful voice in D.C.: the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. NACDS has been closely monitoring the turbulent health care debate, defending the position

NACDS CEO discusses opioid crisis with HHS secretary

NACDS CEO discusses opioid crisis with HHS secretary

ARLINGTON, Va. — Steve Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, took part in a meeting on the opioid epidemic with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. NACDS said that at yesterday’s meeting Price sought to learn more about pharmacy’s role in addressing abuse and misuse of

NACDS stays course amid disarray in Washington

NACDS stays course amid disarray in Washington

The confusion and anxiety unleashed by Republican efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act are unlikely to be put to rest anytime soon, despite the collapse of the Senate leadership’s repeated attempts to secure enough support to enact a bill undercutting President Obama’s signature domestic achievement. After the Republican-controlled chamber failed to pass

Lawmakers push for action on drug costs

Lawmakers push for action on drug costs

WASHINGTON — Sens. John McCain (R., Ariz.) and Tammy Baldwin (D., Wis.) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D., Ill.) this week reintroduced the Fair Accountability and Innovative Research (FAIR) Drug Pricing Act, aimed at improving cost transparency for pharmaceutical price hikes. The FAIR Drug Pricing Act would require drug manufacturers to notify the Department of Health

NACDS’ Steve Anderson meets with HHS chief Tom Price

NACDS’ Steve Anderson meets with HHS chief Tom Price

WASHINGTON — Steve Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, took part in a roundtable today with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. NACDS said Anderson was invited to the session, part of a series of events by HHS, to share information and policy ideas regarding

Scott Gottlieb takes reins as FDA commissioner

Scott Gottlieb takes reins as FDA commissioner

WASHINGTON — Dr. Scott Gottlieb has been sworn in as the new commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Gottlieb, nominated as FDA commissioner by President Donald Trump in March, took the helm as the FDA’s 23rd commissioner on Thursday after being confirmed by a vote of 57-42 in the Senate late Tuesday. He takes

Lack of support sinks vote on Obamacare repeal

Lack of support sinks vote on Obamacare repeal

WASHINGTON — Republicans remained divided on a replacement for Obamacare late last month, as a House vote on the replacement American Health Care Act was aborted due to lack of support for the bill. House leaders pulled back the legislation despite a vow from President Trump to leave Obama’s signature law in place if Congress

Administration reacts to turmoil in ACA exchanges

Administration reacts to turmoil in ACA exchanges

WASHINGTON — Humana Inc.’s decision to pull out of the health insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act threatens to cripple Obama­care before Republican lawmakers bent on its repeal can cobble together a ­replacement. The Humana decision came one day before the Trump administration issued a proposed rule that attempts to offer insurers more

Senate confirms Tom Price as HHS secretary

WASHINGTON — Vowing to fix what he called a “broken health care system,” Rep. Tom Price (R., Ga.) was sworn in earlier this month as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retail pharmacy groups responded by welcoming Price to his new post as HHS secretary. “We congratulate Rep. Tom Price on

Grim outlook for health insurance exchanges

Grim outlook for health insurance exchanges

WASHINGTON — Humana Inc.’s decision to pull out of the health insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act threatens to cripple Obama­care before Republican lawmakers bent on its repeal can cobble together a ­replacement. The Humana decision came one day before the Trump White House issued a proposed rule that attempts to offer insurers

HHS nominee Tom Price faces scrutiny

WASHINGTON — Tom Price, an orthopedic surgeon, a six-term Republican congressman from Georgia and a fierce critic of the Affordable Care Act, faced tough questions from Democrats about ethical issues and policy priorities during his confirmation hearing. But at presstime it appeared that he would be approved as Secretary of the Department of Health and

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