ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores says the results of this year’s congressional elections bode well for community pharmacy. In a letter to the association’s chain members, NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson reports that 92% of the candidates considered to be pro-pharmacy or pro-business won their contests for
TORONTO — Adding new services to an established business model, as community pharmacy is now in the process of accomplishing, is challenging but it can be done profitably, said Steve Wilton, vice president of pharmacy affairs at the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores, at CACDS’ annual conference. Wilton used as examples of manufacturing companies
TORONTO — Marshall Moleschi, registrar of Ontario College of Pharmacists, told his audience at the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores 2012 Conference that policy makers and the health care community are keen to see pharmacy professionals practice to their full scope. Moleschi gave his view against the following backdrop: In Ontario, public health services
To be in Manhattan in the days following Hurricane Sandy was to be stranded on an island with no escape. Bridges and tunnels to the neighboring boroughs, communities and states were closed — though reaching those destinations would have provided no respite. Bad as Manhattan was faring, the neighboring principalities were worse. Stories abounded about
With the conclusion of the 2012 election cycle, retail pharmacy operators have received a definitive answer to one of the biggest questions facing the industry. The reelection of President Obama and continued Democratic control of the Senate guarantee that implementation of the Affordable Care Act will continue, bringing some 30 million additional Americans into the
Home health care continues to be quite the buzz phrase in all areas of health care — from clinical to retail settings. So, who is, or will be, shopping your home health care department? Have you been reacting to your customers’ needs or anticipating them? The number of seniors in the United States is rising
FARGO, N.D. — Traditionally, advancements in the practice and professionalism of community pharmacy have come incrementally, one small step at a time. Often, minor gains have been offset by narrowly conceived restrictive barriers advocated or put in place by health care constituencies less interested in advancements in the relevance of pharmacy than in influencing and
BOSTON — As the investigation continues into the Massachusetts compounding center identified as responsible for the meningitis outbreak that, at presstime, left at least two dozen individuals dead, defenders of the longtime practice are attempting to convince the public that compounding has a history of being safe if properly conducted. Gov. Deval Patrick said he’s
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews was the first patient to get a flu shot from a Rexall Pharma Plus pharmacist as the drug chain kicked off its annual Ontario flu vaccination campaign last month. “Getting a flu shot for Ontarians will be as easy as visiting any Rexall Pharma Plus pharmacy,” Rexall
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark Corp. has appointed Dr. Alan Lotvin executive vice president of specialty pharmacy. In this role Lotvin, who is a cardiologist with extensive experience in pharmacy benefit management and specialty pharmacy, will have overall responsibility for the company’s specialty pharmacy strategy, with a focus on identifying opportunities for growth and innovation.
NEW YORK — A hearing on the proposed $7.2 billion settlement between merchants and credit card companies has been set for November 9. Retailers and others opposed to the settlement had until October 31 to file their written objections. That is less time than many expected, but a number of retail trade organizations were quick
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and several other heath care groups are continuing their efforts to block the state of California from cutting Medi-Cal reimbursement rates. In the spring of 2011 the California legislature passed and Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 97, which included a 10% reimbursement rate cut for
NEW YORK — Kerr Drug and Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy have both teamed up with mobile pharmacy solutions provider mscripts to offer their patients the ability to manage their prescriptions from a mobile phone. The mobile apps that are being offered by the chains allow smartphone users to refill a prescription by simply scanning the QR
