Even as a misguided federal judge continues to review its merger with Aetna — a deal that was finalized last November — CVS Health is moving forward expeditiously to overhaul the health care delivery model. President and chief executive officer Larry Merlo and seven of his colleagues from the combined company’s management team recently laid
IRVING, Texas — A week before he succeeded John Hammergren as chief executive officer of McKesson Corp., Brian Tyler wrote on the company’s website that he was getting ready for the job of a lifetime. Tyler might have added that, in light of the serious problems that continue to plague the health care system in
The community pharmacy profession was blindsided by the Trump administration last month when the Department of Health and Human Services issued the final rule that will govern the Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage programs in 2020. In a radical departure from the proposed rule released earlier in the year, the eventual regulation offered no
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores mobilized an impressive array of pharmacy advocates earlier this month to inform, educate and motivate members of Congress and other federal officials about the need to support policies that enable members of the profession to serve patients effectively. The 424 pharmacy proponents — including key executives from many
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores was at the top of its game during the Regional Chain Conference in Palm Beach, Fla., earlier this month. Often overshadowed by the association’s larger events, this hidden gem provides attendees with an initial look at the objectives that NACDS and its members will pursue during the course
Walgreens Boots Alliance has entered the early stages of a profound transition, one that will see the organization pivot from a store-first to a digital-first model. Any lingering doubts about the direction the company is headed were put to rest earlier this month when WBA unveiled a seven-year agreement with Microsoft to harness the power
Everyone recognizes that the high cost of health care in the U.S. is a chronic problem, the fallout from which is hurting patients, constraining providers and preventing the nation from marshalling adequate resources to address other essential needs. As noted in this space earlier this month, the Affordable Care Act, the legislation that governs the
The law of the land for almost a decade, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 is as controversial now as it was when it was enacted. Republicans’ negative view of the legislation remains diametrically opposed to that of Democrats, public opinion is divided, and the courts continue to issue often contradictory rulings
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The combination of CVS Health and Aetna marks a new era in U.S. health care. Finalized in late November, the $69 billion deal paves the way for the combined company, whose expertise and assets touch nearly every aspect of patient care, to revolutionize health care delivery and, in the process, complete the
U.S. district court judge Richard Leon put somewhat of a damper on CVS Health’s merger with Aetna earlier this month when he indicated that he might order a halt to the integration of the companies, which finalized their $78 billion tie-up in late November after winning approval from the Department of Justice and state regulators.
There is a lot of talk in the industry about the role of retail pharmacists and how it will change in response to the aspirations of those professionals; the knowledge and expertise they possess; and the needs of a creaking health care system, notably the problems of patient access and rising expenditures. AmerisourceBergen, one of
Despite all the attention that Amazon justifiably receives for the transformational effect it is exerting on mass market retailing, a case can be made that the company that is in the best position to meet the omnichannel needs of consumers over the long term is Walmart. Listening to president and chief executive officer Doug McMillon
For the better part of a decade, Walgreens Boosts Alliance has been engaged in continually rethinking what a chain drug store means to the consumer, and how the format needs to evolve to remain relevant in an era when digital technology is changing the rules of the game in retailing and health care. That process
A little over 40 years ago, the first issue of Chain Drug Review appeared. Founded by publisher Susan Schinitsky and editor David Pinto, the publication was positioned, as Pinto said in his first column for Chain Drug Review, as a “biweekly newspaper written and edited specifically for the chain drug industry.” The thrust of the