ALEXANDRIA, Va. — With the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expected to issue a final rule on Medicaid pharmacy reimbursements next year, community pharmacy advocates earlier this month weighed in on the proposal. In detailed written comments to CMS the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association outlined
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Continuing its financial recovery, Rite Aid Corp. turned in improved results for its fiscal 2012 fourth quarter and full year. In the 13-week quarter ended March 3, revenue totaled $7.1 billion, up 10.7% from the prior-year period. Same-store sales grew 3%, reflecting gains of 1.6% in the front end and 3.8%
WASHINGTON — The fate of the Obama administration’s health care reform law appears uncertain after the Supreme Court conducted three days of hearings in late March. Although the president expressed confidence after the hearings that the Court would uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, many Americans apparently have a more cynical opinion and
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. is seeking to attract new pharmacy customers by offering a $25 gift card with every transferred prescription. The offer is designed to capture new customers and educate patients on the benefits of having all their prescriptions in one pharmacy. It is being promoted on walgreens.com and in store circulars. The
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has kicked off a program of free health screenings that will run through the end of the year in multicultural communities nationwide. CVS says the program — dubbed Project Health — will provide more than $21 million worth of screenings throughout 2012. Tests will include those for diabetes, blood pressure and
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has high hopes for next year’s debut of the Total Store Expo, according to president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson. The expo will bring together what are now three separate shows in one setting in Las Vegas in August of 2013. “Our current Supply
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. pharmacists are now offering personalized Rite Care Prescription Advisor reports to show patients how well they are doing taking regularly prescribed medications. The Rite Care Prescription Advisor program is centered on patient consultations with Rite Aid pharmacists, which are intended to help the patients understand the importance of
PALM BEACH, Fla. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores board of directors was expected to approve a slate of new officers for the 2012/13 year at a session held here on April 21, the first day of the NACDS Annual Meeting. Greg Wasson, president and chief executive officer of Walgreen Co., was in
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is teaming up with Humana Pharmacy Solutions Inc. to offer employers a pharmacy benefits plan guaranteeing up to 20% off prescription costs. The new Walmart Rx Network offers self-insured employers an average of 10% savings on their annual average prescription price. At the same time Humana’s new Rx4Value formulary provides comprehensive
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — State health policy professional Leigh Knotts has been named a director of state government affairs at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. In the position, Knotts will be responsible for advocacy in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina and Tennessee. She becomes one of six state directors
The Federal Trade Commission’s decision to end its eight-month investigation of the $29 billion merger between Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions without taking action has received a surprising endorsement from The New York Times. An editorial in the newspaper’s April 5 edition concluded that the FTC’s 3-to-1 vote to finish its inquiry into the
What do those economists know? For two-and-a-half years after the Great Recession was declared officially over in June of 2009, dark clouds continued to cast a long shadow over consumer spending behavior. But just in the past month, real retail sales as reported by the Federal Reserve have finally recovered to prerecession levels. Given this
Americans trust pharmacists. Gallup Organization Inc. ranks pharmacists as the third-most-trusted occupation, placing pharmacists ahead of doctors. In fact, 80% of consumers would purchase an over-the-counter product if it were recommended by their pharmacist, according to Harris Interactive. Clearly, pharmacists can have an impact on the health of the typical American consumer. They also have
It may come as no surprise, but the biggest retail trends to watch all involve technology — mobile computing, Web-based interaction, social media, gamification, augmented reality and more. New-fangled gadgets, terminology and demands have changed the landscape of the retail business forever. As consumers become better at defining their preferred shopping experiences, they reevaluate people
