George Riedl wasn’t at Walmart very long before he helped the retail and pharmacy giant adapt to the changing marketplace for generic drug purchasing. Upon arriving at Walmart late last year as senior vice president and president of the health and wellness business, Riedl — who spent most of his career at Walgreens — quickly
The suspense (or impatience?) continues to build in the investor and retailing communities as Walgreens Boots Alliance’s $17.2 billion deal to buy Rite Aid remains under review by the Federal Trade Commission. Lately, speculation has centered on Kroger as a potential buyer of stores that would be divested by WBA for the FTC to sign
Cardinal Health has quietly acquired TelePharm, an Iowa City, Iowa-based provider of telepharmacy services, according to published reports. Spokespeople for both companies told the Des Moines Register that the deal closed last month. Financial terms weren’t disclosed. TelePharm’s cloud-based software provides pharmacies with counseling and prescription verification services. The solution enables one pharmacist to verify
In tandem with a stockholder advocacy group, Walgreens shareholders have called on the drug chain to re-examine its stance on tobacco sales. The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility said members of the organization and Walgreens shareholders have filed a proposal asking the retailer’s board to assess the risks of tobacco sales at Walgreens drug stores
Target Corp. gives a peek into some of the goings-on in its technology organization in a chat with its chief information officer, Mike McNamara. Looking ahead, Target aims to keep blending more digital elements into the retail mix, as well as behind the scenes, according to McNamara, who joined the company in June 2015 from
Persistence is paying off for the National Community Pharmacists Association in its advocacy for more transparency with DIR fees. In a posting in its “The Dose” blog this week, NCPA noted that it continues to build congressional support in getting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to finalize its guidance on direct and
Kinney Drugs beat out financial giant Morgan Stanley in raising funds for the American Heart Association’s Wear Red Day. In fact, the regional drug chain — with about 100 stores in New York and Vermont — was the top fundraiser nationwide in the association’s 2016 Heart Health campaign, generating $30,000. Morgan Stanley was second with
The days of retailers calling the shots are gone; technology has put the customer in charge, said longtime retail analyst/consultant Walter Loeb. In a column for Forbes on Tuesday, Loeb said retailers are undergoing a transition in which they now must meet the needs of specific customers rather than interacting with consumers on a market
The updated “Prescription Medicines: Costs In Context” report from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) gives both a surprising and not-so-suprising snapshot of the changing Rx marketplace and how the nation’s health system is adapting. More than 7,000 medications are in development worldwide, led by drugs for cancer (1,813), neurological disorders (1,329), infectious
Walmart is in talks to buy online retailer Jet.com, according to a report on Thursday by The Wall Street Journal. Jet.com, which launched its e-commerce web site in July 2015, was co-founded by Marc Lore, who serves as its chairman and CEO. Lore is an e-commerce veteran, having sold his previous online retailing venture, Quidsi
Drug abuse, including misuse of prescription drugs, remains at alarmingly high levels in the U.S. Reports of opioid overdoses and drug-related crimes and car accidents seem to appear in local headlines almost daily. Feeding this epidemic, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy says, are rogue Internet drug outlets illegally dispensing prescription controlled substances. NABP’s
It can’t be said that community pharmacists don’t try to save their patients money. A survey earlier this month by digital pharmacy SaaS platform provider RxWiki found that 83% of community pharmacies actively search for drug manufacturer co-pay coupons to help their patients spend less on their medications. That includes by searching on Google, using
In a move not likely to please retailers, Procter & Gamble reportedly is testing an online subscription service for Tide Pods laundry detergent capsules. A report Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal said that in Atlanta P&G has tested the Tide Wash Club, an online subscription service with free shipping for the Tide Pods. And
It looks like Walgreens Boots Alliance is getting down to brass tacks in its negotiations with the Federal Trade Commission to acquire Rite Aid. The New York Post reported late Thursday evening that WBA is discussing store divestitures with the FTC and trying to get a bead on the number of Walgreens and/or Rite Aid
