Wendy future of retail top

Issue 03-12-2012

Keynote event on mass retail agenda nears

Six weeks remain until the start of the 2012 Annual Meeting of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. And once again this year the event holds every initial promise of amply rewarding those retail and supplier executives who care enough about their business to journey to Palm Beach, Fla., for the meeting. Those familiar

DEA action has unintended consequences

Community pharmacies and the drug wholesalers that supply them find themselves caught in the crossfire between people who divert and abuse prescription medications and the law enforcement officials working to stop them. Recent action taken against CVS/pharmacy and Cardinal Health by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Florida is a case in point. The DEA moved

Express Scripts CEO’s remarks draw fire

NEW YORK — A less-than-flattering assessment of pharmacists from Express Scripts Inc. chief executive officer George Paz has fanned the flames over his company’s proposed merger with Medco Health Solutions Inc. Paz, who is the company’s chairman and president as well as CEO, remarked during Express Scripts’ fourth quarter conference call, “Nexium is Nexium, Lipitor

RxAlly program gets backing of nine chains

LEESBURG, Va. — Nine drug chains and thousands of independent pharmacies across the country have signed onto an initiative to give pharmacists a chance to work more closely with patients to improve care and cut costs. The drug stores, which include Walgreen Co. and the entire Chain Drug Consortium (Bartell Drugs, Discount Drug Mart, Kerr

Medi-Cal challenge to proceed

WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and several other pharmacy associations are applauding a recent decision by the Supreme Court that sides with pharmacists and other health care providers in preserving their ability to challenge reimbursement cuts in Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. The pharmacy groups previously filed a legal brief in this

Community pharmacy irked over proposed Tricare changes

WASHINGTON — A portion of the 2013 federal budget proposed by the Obama administration last month has community pharmacy advocates up in arms. Under the fiscal package released by the president in mid-February, pharmacy patients covered by the military’s Tricare program would see their co-payments for some prescription drugs more than double — something that

Cardinal Health loses round in DEA battle

WASHINGTON — A federal judge here has allowed the government to suspend Cardinal Health Inc’s license to distribute controlled substances from its Lakeland, Fla., facility. U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton denied Cardinal Health Inc.’s request for a preliminary injunction on February 29, a few weeks after the company won a temporary restraining order blocking

Private label line extended at Health Mart

SAN FRANCISCO — McKesson Corp. has rolled out a line of Health Mart branded vitamins for the more than 2,900 independently owned pharmacies that operate under that banner. In conjunction with the rollout the company has launched the 2012 Vitamin Finder on its ­website. Executives explain that the Vitamin Finder provides consumers with access to

NACDS sounds call for RxImpact Day

WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores plans to hold its fourth annual NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill on March 21 and March 22. The event will bring pharmacists, pharmacy leaders, students and other pharmacy advocates to meet with lawmakers to discuss the role and value of community pharmacy in improving health

Kerr Drug introduces Just Ask plan

RALEIGH, N.C. — Kerr Drug is launching a campaign in stores and across multiple marketing channels designed to encourage pharmacists and patients to discuss the patients’ prescriptions, conditions, health practices and overall health. Called Just Ask, the initiative will focus on 11 conditions, which include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and ­diabetes. “I know from

Rite Aid teams up with CaptureRx

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has selected CaptureRx as its preferred 340B technology vendor and administrator. Through CaptureRx, Rite Aid will offer contract pharmacy services to dispense 340B-priced drugs to patients of eligible community health centers and hospitals nationwide. The 340B drug discount plan is a federal program that enables qualified health centers

Walgreens shows 90-day Rx option at retail effective

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Significant increases in refill volume and improved medication adherence are among benefits of the 90-day prescription refill at retail initiative launched a little over a year ago at Walgreen Co. The pharmacy operator recently released data supporting the success of the program and its benefits to patients and ­payers. Launched in January

High Court poised to tackle health care reform

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court last month agreed to add another 30 minutes to the arguments over President Barack Obama’s health care reform law. The sessions, which will be held over three days later this month (March 26 through March 28), will now span six hours. The 30 additional minutes will be added to the

NACDS Foundation launches new website

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The NACDS Foundation Dinner has launched a website with the theme of “one night for health’s dawn.” “The NACDS Foundation is advancing exhilarating projects to make a positive impact on public health,” said foundation president Kathleen Jaeger. “NACDS Foundation Dinner donors deserve to know that their engagement is a catalyst for forward-thinking

Centrum 7/6  banner