April 23, 2017 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
George Glatcz, IN:Q Paks, Meds to Beds, NEOMED, Northeast Ohio Medical University, RefreshinQ, Ritzman Pharmacy, Ritzman Pharmacy of the Future
Leading Headlines, Pharmacy, Retail News
WADSWORTH, Ohio — The future is now at Ritzman Pharmacy. The year-old Ritzman Pharmacy of the Future has won plaudits from consumers, the industry and academia while performing ahead of plan. Hailed as an answer to the commoditization of pharmacy, the location in Rootstown, Ohio, has been embraced by patients and members of the broader
April 22, 2017 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
Discount Drug Mart, Hastings Professional Medical Equipment, MetroHealth, Mike Eby
Leading Headlines, Pharmacy, Retail News
MEDINA, Ohio — Pharmacy services will be a focus for Discount Drug Mart in 2017 following a year in which the chain saw a gain in medication therapy management revenue and increased demand for flu shots. The retailer doubled revenues from MTM in 2016 and provided 5% more immunizations than in the previous flu season.
April 22, 2017 by Geoff Walden, Greg Jacobson and Chain Drug Review
ACA marketplace, Affordable Care Act, American Health Care Act, health insurance, Obamacare, Paul Ryan, President Barack Obama, President Donald Trump, Reince Priebus
2017, Issue 04-24-2017, Issues, News, Pharmacy, Retail News
WASHINGTON — The effort to end Obamacare is not over, although whether the Affordable Care Act will be completely shelved or recast is unclear. Despite last month’s aborted House vote on a replacement bill, Republicans continue to seek an alternative to the ACA that the whole party — and possibly some Democrats — can get
April 22, 2017 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicaid prescriptions, Medicaid reimbursement, NACDS, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Community Pharmacists Association, NCPA, Washington State Health Care Authority, Washington State Pharmacy Association
2017, Issue 04-24-2017, Issues, News
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has joined the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA) in suing Washington state over a rule they say would reimburse pharmacies for less than the cost of dispensing Medicaid prescriptions. The plaintiffs last month filed an emergency motion in Superior
April 22, 2017 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
McKesson Canada, Paula Keays, Philippe Duval, Rexall, Uniprix
2017, Issue 04-24-2017, Issues, News
ST. LAURENT, Quebec — McKesson Canada has agreed to purchase 380-store suburban Montreal-based Uniprix. Terms of the deal, which will lift McKesson Canada’s store count over the 2,500 mark, were not disclosed. The acquisition is a natural step for two companies with deep roots in Quebec that have a long history of working together to
April 22, 2017 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
Bartell Drugs, Brian Unmacht
2017, Issue 04-24-2017, Issues, News
SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs is searching for a new chief executive officer following the resignation of Brian Unmacht. Unmacht, the first person outside the Bartell family to hold the president and CEO title, resigned to pursue other personal and professional opportunities, a company spokesman said. The senior executive team led by chief financial officer Rob
April 22, 2017 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
HealthWatch for Business, Mark Rolnick, Shoppers Drug Mart
2017, Issue 04-24-2017, Issues, News
TORONTO — Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) is launching a drug plan focused on better managing chronic conditions to help companies and their employees save 5% to 10% on their existing plan. The HealthWATCH for Business plan will integrate with Canadian employers’ current health coverage. “We understand that employers are facing unprecedented financial pressures due to
April 22, 2017 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
2017, Business, Featured Articles, Issue 04-24-2017, Issues, Leading Headlines, News, Retail News
NEW YORK — These are uncertain times for chain drug stores. The turbulent political atmosphere surrounding the Affordable Care Act, combined with the undetermined outcome of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.’s (WBA’s) acquisition of Rite Aid Corp., is making 2017 one of the more unsettled years for the industry in recent memory. The ACA “is in
April 3, 2017 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
Affordable Care Act, American Health Care Act, Obamacare, Paul Ryan, President Trump, Tom Price
2017, Issue 04-03-2017, Issues, News
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
April 3, 2017 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
Adam Holyk, Alex Gourlay, Joseph Hartsig, Linda Filler, Walgreens, Walgreens Boots Alliance
2017, Issue 04-03-2017, Issues, News
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens has named Joseph Hartsig chief merchandising officer and Adam Holyk chief marketing officer. Hartsig and Holyk report to Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) co-chief operating officer Alex Gourlay, and are part of the Walgreens Enterprise Operating Committee. Hartsig also reports to Annie Murphy, WBA’s chief customer officer, while Holyk also reports
April 3, 2017 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
I.D.A./Guardian, Mark Dickson, McKesson Canada, Peoples Drug Mart, Peoples Pharmacy, PharmaChoice, Pharmasave, Remedy'sRx
2017, Issue 04-03-2017, Issues, News
BURNABY, British Columbia — Peoples Drug Mart has ceased operations as a pharmacy group. The network’s independently owned 45 drug stores will operate under new banners, said Mark Dickson, who was Peoples’ interim chief executive officer. Dickson blamed the group’s demise after 41 years on the continued squeeze on pharmacy margins across Canada. Coping with
March 13, 2017 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
ACA, Affordable Care Act, Chuck Schumer, health care policy, health insurance, John Boehner, Obamacare, Paul Ryan, President Donald Trump
2017, Issue 03-13-2017, Issues, News
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has called for bipartisan support for an overhaul of the Affordable Care Act, but his own party was divided on the issue. In his first speech to a joint session of Congress, Trump asked Republicans and Democrats “to save Americans from this imploding Obamacare disaster.” Reiterating his campaign rhetoric, the
March 13, 2017 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
Americans for Affordable Products, Border Adjustment Tax, NACDS, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Steve Anderson
2017, Issue 03-13-2017, Issues, News
ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has joined with more than 200 members of the Americans for Affordable Products coalition to lay out a case to Congress against the Border Adjustment Tax. The BAT is included in the House Republican leadership’s “Better Way” plan for tax reform. In a letter to
March 13, 2017 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
corporate social responsibility, Get a Shot. Give a Shot, Kevin Walgreen, Ornella Barra, Richard Ellis, Stefano Pessina, UN Foundation, Walgreens Boots Alliance
2017, Issue 03-13-2017, Issues, News
WASHINGTON — There was a time not all that many years ago when corporate social responsibility (CSR) was viewed by most companies as a second- or third-tier priority, something good to do but not a central part of the business model. That thinking has changed radically in recent years, with CSR taking its rightful place