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Two more Walgreens flagship stores debut

WASHINGTON — Walgreen Co. opened a pair of flagship stores within a few days in two of the East Coast’s largest cities late last month. The newest units — in Washington D.C.’s Chinatown area and in the Empire State Building in New York City — are the seventh and eighth Walgreens flagship stores. Separated into

Skaggs, retail pioneer, dies at 89

SALT LAKE CITY — Among the giants who founded chain drug retailing in America, Sam Skaggs was unique — which is saying something, considering the range of vision and talent contained in the group of entrepreneurs who built America’s chain drug store business. Skaggs, who died last month at age 89 after battling a range

CVS iPad app gives shoppers access to virtual store

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has launched an iPad app featuring a digital pharmacy experience and 3-D virtual store. Using the app, customers can quickly access services from the pharmacy, ExtraCare rewards program, photo center and MinuteClinic, as well as browse departments. Designed to present a fun and interactive pathway to shop CVS and fill prescriptions,

SDM, insurer team up on health efforts

TORONTO — With the prevalence of chronic diseases on the rise, Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) and Great-West Life are introducing two health support programs for the insurer’s clients. Participating SDM pharmacists will offer a support program for eligible Great-West Life plan members who are living with diabetes, as well as a comprehensive medication counseling program

NACDS sets speaker for PAC event

ARLINGTON, Va. — Nancy-Ann DeParle, former deputy chief of staff for policy for President Obama, will be the keynote speaker at the NACDS Chain Members and Political Action Committee breakfast. The NACDS-PAC event will be held April 22 during the NACDS Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla. Considered one of the nation’s leading experts on

MTM legislation earns NACDS, NCPA endorsement

WASHINGTON — Pharmacy advocates have endorsed House and Senate bills to expand medication therapy management (MTM) services for seniors. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) have applauded the bipartisan legislation to boost medication compliance. NACDS and NCPA commended Sens. Kay Hagan (D., N.C.) and Pat Roberts (R., Kan.)

Alberta is latest province to cut generics prices

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Alberta Pharmacists’ Association (RxA) has blasted plans by the government of Alberta to slash generic drug prices. As part of Alberta’s 2013 budget, lawmakers agreed to reduce generics prices from 35% of branded drug prices to 18% as of May 1. RxA expressed surprise that the province gave the green light

Nature of industry changing drastically

These are stunning times for chain drug retailing in America. Events are tumbling willy-nilly one atop another, with the result that the nature of the entire industry is changing as dramatically and quickly as it has ever changed. More significantly, it will never again be what it once was. Two weeks ago Walgreens and Alliance

ACA gives retail Rx an opportunity to step up

Implementation of the major provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) occurs less than nine months from now. Although the sweeping changes, including the addition of some 30 million people to the ranks of those with health insurance, will impact every American in one way or another, there is a surprising degree

AllergEase allergy lozenge hits store shelves

NEW YORK — AllergEase has begun rolling out an all-natural herbal lozenge that provides relief to allergy sufferers. Launched at CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide, the organic product is the first of its kind containing natural ingredients to target outdoor allergies in an effective and efficient way, according to AllergEase. With a blend of eyebright, menthol, elderflower,

Take Care Clinics launch chronic disease services

Take Care Clinics launch chronic disease services

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Take Care Health Services is expanding its scope of health care practice to include services for people with chronic conditions. The Walgreen Co. retail health clinic subsidiary said Thursday that the new services — including assessment, treatment and management for chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma and others —

Rite Aid’s March sales down despite front-end gain

Rite Aid’s March sales down despite front-end gain

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. reported a smaller decrease in comparable-store sales for March, with improved front-end sales providing a lift. The drug chain said Thursday that for the four weeks ended March 30, comp-store sales fell 2% year over year, an improvement from a 3.6% decrease in February. Same-store sales grew 3.8%

NACDS leaders rally community pharmacy

PALM BEACH, Fla. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ leadership urged members attending the NACDS Annual Meeting here to keep pressing forward with their efforts to advance community pharmacy, in both the patient and policy realms. During for the first NACDS Annual Meeting Business Program on Sunday, NACDS chairman Greg Wasson called for

NACDS, NCPA give thumbs-down to Medicaid reimbursement cuts

ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association have called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to rethink proposed cuts in drug reimbursement. NACDS and NCPA said Friday that they have sent a letter to CMS to express their concerns about the proposal to

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