DALLAS, Ga. — When Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Ark., in 1962, he set in motion an enterprise that fundamentally transformed the way Americans shop, giving them convenient access to high-quality consumer products at the lowest possible price. Now, 57 years later, the company has embarked on a pilot test to
TORONTO — Shoppers Drug Mart is innovating across its business to protect the balanced sales equation that makes it the envy of its counterparts in the U.S. Like American drug chains, SDM is known for pharmacy and an expanding array of health care services, but it is also a leader in beauty in Canada and
Five years ago next month, CVS Health stopped selling cigarettes and other tobacco products. The move — a bold departure for a pharmacy chain in this country, one that sadly has yet to be matched by any of the company’s peers — was intended to discourage smokers from indulging in a habit that is clearly
As stakeholders in chain pharmacy gather this month for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ Total Store Expo in Boston, the industry confronts a host of important issues — legal proceedings in which it is asserted that retailers and drug wholesalers bear at least some responsibility for the ongoing opioid epidemic; the emergence of
WASHINGTON — With the Senate Finance Committee expected to begin making decisions on spending bills as early as today, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores has launched a telephone hotline — (866) DIR-RE4M — that pharmacy advocates can use to urge the inclusion of DIR fee relief in drug-pricing legislation. An NACDS RxImpact grassroots
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