Much has been written of late about the emergence of the community pharmacist as a health care professional who is finally living up to his promise. No longer content merely to dispense prescriptions and —when his patients really insist — give advice about the drugs that he’s dispensing, the best and the brightest of today’s
A story about community pharmacists and their growing role in the nation’s health care system appeared on the front page of a Saturday edition of The New York Times earlier this month. Taking the work of Barney’s Pharmacy, an independent drug store in Augusta, Ga., as its focal point, the article discussed the evolution of
WASHINGTON — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a request for proposal (RFP) seeking a contractor to develop monthly national surveys of retail pharmacy prescription drug prices and ingredient costs. Published on the government contract bidding web site, FedBizOpps.gov, the RFP also calls for the contractor to devise an annual report
CHICAGO — Walgreens used a gala event at one of its drug stores on the city’s South Side earlier this month to showcase its newest concept — an expanded food selection in areas that lack access to the basic food necessary to maintain a healthy diet. In a daylong event that included cooking demonstrations, giveaways
RALEIGH, N.C. — Pharmacists who play a central role in managing a person’s health can improve patient care and drive down costs, a U.S. senator said during a recent visit to a Kerr Drug store here. Sen. Kay Hagan (D., N.C.), a cosponsor of the Medication Therapy Management Expanded Benefits Act of 2010 recently approved
NEW YORK — John Lederer, who oversaw the reinvention of Duane Reade that set the stage for its purchase by Walgreen Co., is moving to U.S. Foodservice as president and chief executive officer. As chairman and chief executive officer of Duane Reade since April 2008, Lederer led an overhaul of drab stores where low service
WASHINGTON — President Obama has signed into law a bill providing $26 billion to struggling states — including additional Medicaid funding — by closing tax loopholes for multinational companies and cutting food aid to the poor. The House of Representatives gave final congressional approval to the bill on a largely party-line vote of 247 to
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has issued $650 million in notes as part of a plan to refinance its debt and credit. The drug store chain also is working to regain compliance with the minimum share price rule of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in order to avoid being delisted. Plans call
RALEIGH, N.C. — Kerr Drug has signed a licensing agreement for MirixaEdge, Mirixa Corp.’s clinical application that supports the delivery of pharmacist-based patient care services, including medication therapy management (MTM). Kerr plans to offer MTM services to the city of Charleston, S.C., and Charleston Water Works employees, using the web-based MirixaEdge application as the technology
VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — Mike Cantrell has been named president of AmerisourceBergen Corp.’s Good Neighbor Pharmacy network. Cantrell has also been named group vice president of retail business development and reports to Jerry Cline, senior vice president of retail sales and marketing at AmerisourceBergen. In his new post Cantrell serves as national leader of the
NEW YORK — While health care reform got the votes it needed in Washington, it still faces resistance in many states. Blocking maneuvers from lawsuits to legislative action to referenda are occurring from Florida to Alaska. In Missouri, voters this month passed a referendum aimed at overturning the health care reform law. The measure, which
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark Corp. entered the Omaha market with the recent grand opening at one of its two new drug stores in the Nebraska city. Additional locations in the market are planned over the next several years. CVS/pharmacy has also expanded its presence this year in St. Louis, Memphis and Puerto Rico. “We