DEERFIELD, Ill. — In a country where health care is rife with wasted time and money, Walgreens is committed to making pharmacy more efficient. One measure of the practice’s current inefficiency, says Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., is the large number of prescriptions that need additional authorization on the way
WASHINGTON — The choices of Tom Price and Seema Verma for top health positions under Donald Trump have reaffirmed the president-elect’s commitment to toppling the Affordable Care Act. Price, a six-term Republican congressman from Georgia and fierce critic of Obamacare, was picked as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), while Verma,
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Pharmacy is partnering with OptumRx, the PBM subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, to boost convenience and lower costs for consumers and clients while improving outcomes. The two companies will offer employers a new pharmacy network program providing eligible OptumRx members the option to fill 90-day prescriptions at prices equal to home delivery
NEW YORK — Pervasive optimism over the economy and strong early online sales signaled a robust holiday shopping season. Economic growth, a lack of inflation, rising wages and low unemployment have buoyed consumers and augured a willingness to spend significantly through December. And while many shoppers are favoring online purchases, the general enthusiasm was also
MONTREAL — Sixteen-year company veteran Paula Keays has been promoted to president of McKesson Canada. Keays had been senior vice president of pharmaceutical distribution and operations. She fills the vacancy that was created by the late-summer departure of Alain Champagne, who joined sales training and development firm Optimé International as a partner and chief executive
ARLINGTON, Va. — The upcoming NACDS Regional Chain Conference will be a fertile source of ideas for retail pharmacy, says Kristin Williams, senior vice president and chief health officer at Hy-Vee Inc. “The Regional Chain Conference is a wonderful venue for in-depth exchanges with both retail colleagues and suppliers,” says Williams, who is chairing the
WASHINGTON — If Obamacare is repealed, what will replace it? That is the question in the aftermath of the election of Donald Trump as president. Trump has vowed to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act as his first act in office. If the effort succeeds, some 22 million fewer Americans would have health insurance,
MEDINA, Ohio — Discount Drug Mart has taken home health care at drug chains to a new level. Building on its 2014 acquisition of Hastings Professional Medical Equipment, the retailer says it’s providing products and services unavailable at rival pharmacy operators. Our reputation in the category is so good that the competition will refer customers
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — John Fegan has retired as vice president of pharmacy at Southeastern Grocers LLC, parent company of BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie. The company operates more than 500 pharmacies. Fegan joined Winn-Dixie as vice president of pharmacy in June 2008. He formerly headed U.S. pharmacy operations at Ahold, a Netherlands-based global food retailer. He
NEW YORK — The increasing complexity of today’s consumer is making it ever more difficult to tailor stores to shoppers, retailers and suppliers said at the 2016 Chain Drug Review Category Management Roundtable in Manhattan. Conducted in tandem with Market Performance Group (MPG), the roundtable featured 20 executives representing the retailer and supplier viewpoints. Panelists
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart’s third quarter earnings beat analysts’ expectations, but its sales fell slightly short, dampened by food deflation and unfavorable foreign exchange rates. The company earned $3.03 billion, or 98 cents a share, during the quarter, down from $1.03 per share a year ago. Analysts, on average, had projected earnings of 96 cents
SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs is set to mark the opening of its newest store, in Seattle’s burgeoning Ballard neighborhood. The Puget Sound-area drug chain said is plans to hold a grand opening event for the Ballard store, its 65th overall, on Nov. 19. The 14,200-square-foot store extends the retailer’s recent focus on urban locales. It
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — John Fegan has retired as vice president of pharmacy at Southeastern Grocers LLC. The food and drug retailer, the parent company of supermarket chains BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie, operates more than 500 pharmacies. Fegan joined Winn-Dixie as vice president of pharmacy in June 2008. He formerly headed U.S. pharmacy operations at Ahold,
WASHINGTON — Premiums for health plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act will rise sharply next year, and insurer defections in some states will leave consumers with substantially fewer coverage options, the federal government reported. Premiums will increase, on average, 25% for mid-level plans on the federal health insurance exchange, according to the Department of
