Retailer adoption of EMV chip card technology continues to lag since an Oct. 1 deadline shifting liability for some fraudulent transactions to merchants, according to a report by Bloomberg on Wednesday. Citing data from research firm Mercator Advisory Group, Bloomberg reported that even though nearly 60% of bank-issued credit cards have an embedded chip for
Many retailer loyalty card programs don’t work because they’re “consumer unfriendly,” says Kurt Jetta, founder and CEO of TABS Analytics. In a blog post yesterday, Jetta spotlights several problems with current loyalty programs, namely the following: the offers are confusing, consumers have to jump through too many hoops to get the deal, shoppers often must
The presence of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) across the pharmacy care sector continues to broaden and deepen. Over two days earlier this month, WBA unveiled an integrated pharmacy offering with PBM OptumRx and then announced that it’s boosting its equity stake in drug distributor AmerisourceBergen. The highlight of the offering with OptumRx is that members
A pair of new studies shed some light on the use of retail clinics and their potential as an alternative site for health care. With the push to rein in health care costs for both consumers and payers, retail clinics have been seen as a more affordable option to doctor’s office and emergency room visits.
McKesson is laying off 1,600 employees, or 4% of its U.S. workforce, in the wake of losing some key clients, Bloomberg reported late Wednesday. The nation’s largest pharmaceutical distributor, McKesson started informing staff about the cuts in the middle of this month after having done a strategic review in January, according to Bloomberg. Of late,
Benzer Pharmacy’s specialty medication arm has set up shop on New Orlean’s Canal Street by establishing a center of excellence, with a focus on HIV and hepatitis C. Located at 2525 Canal St., the location’s services include insurance benefits verification, completion of prior authorizations, appeals processing and submission, financial assistance programs (co-pay/foundations) and drug/disease patient
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores reports that final average manufacturer price (AMP)-based federal upper limits (FULs) are set to be published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) late this month. Once instituted, the final AMP-based FULs will “significantly change” Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement for branded and generic drugs, according to NACDS.
PharmaSmart International is among a group of hypertension organizations urging sharper regulation of consumer blood pressure devices. The blood pressure kiosk maker reported that 21 international hypertension organizations have published a joint statement calling on the private health care sector and governments to address the issue of inaccurate BP devices. Citing inadequate regulatory control and
The National Community Pharmacists Association has given a rundown of what it described as a “wide-ranging” 228-page call letter by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) concerning proposed revisions to Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in 2017. In a blog post this week, NCPA outlined some of the key changes that community
Shoppers Drug Mart and London Drugs, two of Canada’s largest pharmacy chains, reportedly are considering selling medical marijuana. A published report by The Globe and Mail this week said Shoppers Drug Mart has made inquiries with medical marijuana suppliers. The article also reported that the drug chain, Canada’s largest with over 1,300 stores, has discussed
Though the number of walk-in clinics in retail pharmacies has surged over the years, 2016 stands to see slow growth, says Adam Fein, CEO of the Drug Channels Institute. This week, Fein posted an overview of the retail clinic arena on his Drug Channels blog, including a chart listing the top players — CVS (MinuteClinic),
CVS Health has made the 2016 Fast Company “50 Most Innovative Companies” list, coming in at No. 3. The business publication said CVS was among a number of first-timers on the annual list, including pharmaceutical manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb, which was No. 17. According to Fast Company, the list recognizes “leading enterprises and rising newcomers that
Diplomat Pharmacy has gone live with what the company describes as a “re-envisioned” website. The nation’s largest independent specialty pharmacy said its revamped website is “user-centric, story-driven, knowledge-based and mobile-friendly.” Key features include a sleek, intuitive layout; fresh, relevant content such as Diplomat’s “Areas of Excellence”; guided user experiences for patients, prescribers and caregivers; and
The impact of negative coverage of the effectiveness of last year’s seasonal flu vaccine may be carrying over into this flu season. A study by health consumer analytics firm Treato and online media specialist MediaMiser found that people — especially parents — are highly skeptical of this year’s flu shot, despite efforts by the media
