Wendy future of retail top

2011

Walgreens stands up for the value of pharmacy

With the end of the year less than three weeks away, it appears all but certain that Walgreens will not be part of Express Scripts’ network of pharmacy providers when 2012 gets under way. Barring an eleventh-hour breakthrough in the protracted contract renewal negotiations between the drug chain and the PBM, fallout from the dispute,

Walmart ponders next steps in health care delivery

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has set its sights on increasing its role in the U.S. health care system and is exploring the possibility of offering a wider range of services. In late October the world’s largest retailer sent out a request for information from potential vendor partners to help it “dramatically lower the cost of

Walgreens tests loyalty program

DEERFIELD, Ill. — One of the missing pieces for Walgreen Co. in its transformation into a “health and daily living” retailer has been a customer loyalty program. But that won’t be for much longer. Company executives recently provided some details about the shopper loyalty program that the drug store chain is testing. Speaking at the

Pharmacy groups blast Medi-Cal cuts

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Pharmacy advocates have condemned the federal government’s approval of reimbursement cuts to the profession in Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. “We are extremely disappointed with the unconscionable Medi-Cal reimbursement cuts proposed by the state and approved by [the Department of Health and Human Services],” the heads of the National Association of Chain Drug

Appeals court OKs health care reform law

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court earlier this month ruled that Congress did not overstep its authority by requiring people to have health insurance or pay a penalty on their taxes beginning in 2014, as called for under a core provision of the Obama administration’s health care reform law. The decision — which proponents of

Outlook for Canadian pharmacies eyed

TORONTO — Attendees at the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores’ Canadian Drugstore Conference, held here late last month, were cautioned to expect continued volatile markets for another year or two. After that, speakers at the event said, the market would likely become more predictable. While no one promised that the high-growth years of the

CACDS appoints new chairman

TORONTO — Sandra Aylward, vice president of professional and regulatory affairs for Lawtons Drugs and Sobeys Pharmacy Group, has been named chairman of the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS). Aylward, who is on the board of Rx Canada, has worked in community pharmacy for more than 25 years as a practitioner and advocate

CMS’ proposed FULs for Medicaid draw fire

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has challenged the proposed federal upper limit (FUL) list for pharmacy reimbursements from Medicaid. Consideration of the FULs represents another step in a lengthy, ongoing and highly fluid process that ultimately affects the accessibility of prescription medications and pharmacy services for Medicaid ­patients. NACDS has

CVS adds to Rx adherence program

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark Corp. has launched Pharmacy Advisor for chronic cardiovascular care, a pharmacy-based approach to managing one of the most prevalent and expensive chronic illnesses. The initiative, which combines pharmacy benefit management insights and programs with pharmacist interventions, ensures that patients follow their medication regimens to achieve optimal health outcomes. Pharmacy Advisor

NACDS backs bill to spur generics use in Medicaid

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Legislation that would provide states with incentives for using generic medications through the Medicaid program has been endorsed by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. The bill, the Affordable Medicines Utilization Act of 2011, was introduced by Rep. Charles Bass (R., N.H.). “The majority of Medicaid prescriptions — 70% — are

Coalition seeks level playing field for sales taxes

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Seventy state and national trade associations and more than 60 companies have petitioned the “super committee” that is exploring ways to trim the federal deficit to clear the way for states to start collecting sales tax on Internet and catalog purchases. The coalition, which includes such groups as the National Association of

Physicians are gravitating to e-scripts

ARLINGTON, Va. — More than half (52%) of the nation’s office-based doctors (291,000 physicians) now use electronic prescribing, and 94% of retail pharmacies nationwide are now connected and receiving electronic prescriptions, according to Surescripts. The figures were announced by Surescripts over Twitter as part of a nationwide online event featuring health care leaders and providers

Does your diabetes care section measure up?

The media portray diabetes as an epidemic. Is that far-fetched? Not according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which estimates one in three Americans could have the disease by 2050. Think about that number for a moment — that could be one out of every three shoppers in your store. Today the

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