By the close of 2012 two key questions regarding the Affordable Care Act were finally addressed: one, whether the health care reform law is constitutional and, two, whether it would be repealed under a new administration. With these two questions now clearly resolved by the Supreme Court and the November elections, respectively, health care stakeholders
No more confusing or misunderstood retail or health care alliance exists today than the relationship among the CVS drug chain, the Caremark PBM and the MinuteClinic immediate-care network. To most observers, and even some people who claim to be industry insiders, CVS Caremark is little more than a loose alliance of three separate and only
NEW YORK — When the editors of Chain Drug Review looked back at 2012 with an eye toward identifying the executives who had the biggest impact on the industry, one event and the people behind it clearly stood out: the unprecedented partnership Walgreen Co. and Alliance Boots, two of the world’s premier retail and health
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Pharmacists at Rite Aid Corp. are making a bigger commitment to health care. Embracing a broader role, the drug chain’s pharmacy team is on a mission to not just provide vital medications but also help the people and the communities they serve improve their overall health and wellness. The result has
PLYMOUTH, Minn. — Thrifty White Pharmacy is reinventing the essential component of chain drug retailing by recasting pharmacists as patient counselors and practitioners of medication therapy management. For seeking to end the long-standing limitations on pharmacists from the rote demands of dispensing prescriptions, Thrifty White has been recognized as Chain Drug Review’s Pharmacy Innovator of
NEW YORK — Chain drug executives are sounding an upbeat tone as they size up their prospects for 2013. Though most executives express concern about fiscal developments in Washington, they are confident in the outlook for the retail pharmacy industry. Why? They note that drug chains have positioned themselves well to address two critical market
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. reported its first quarterly profit since May 2007, thanks largely to generic drug sales that bolstered gross margin as well as improved front-end sales. The bottom line for the 13-week fiscal 2013 third quarter ended December 1 swung to a net profit of $61.9 million, or 7 cents
TORONTO — Denise Carpenter has been named president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores. Before joining CACDS, she served as president and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) from 2009 to 2012. In that capacity Carpenter led the development and implementation of a multiyear strategic plan to support
NEW YORK — CVS Caremark Inc. will continue to bring innovative ideas and services to the health care market, the company’s executives told dozens of Wall Street analysts gathered here last month for the company’s annual analysts day. “We are a pharmacy innovation company, a company whose purpose is to help people on their path
NEW YORK — The early arrival of Thanksgiving lifted chain drug holiday sales above last year’s levels. Total sales rose 4.6%, with same-store volume climbing 2.4%, as customers took advantage of extra holiday shopping days, according to research by Racher Press Inc., the publisher of Chain Drug Review. Last year’s numbers, when Thanksgiving fell two
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal appeals court here affirmed California’s right to cut reimbursement payments to Medi-Cal providers by 10%. While the rollback in payments to physicians, pharmacists and others serving those covered by California’s Medicaid program was hailed by government officials as a way to trim more than $330 million a year from California’s
MIAMI — Navarro Discount Pharmacy has opened its 32nd store, located in Miami’s Kendall section. “The new store in West Kendall is well positioned in the Kendale Lakes Plaza among other discount brand retailers,” said president and chief executive officer Juan Ortiz. “We are also pleased to return to the Kendall area and to meet
SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs has announced the selection of Rob Jensen as chief financial officer. The community pharmacy operator noted that Jensen previously was senior vice president and CFO at Car Toys, a Seattle-based retailer of mobile entertainment, performance accessories and wireless phones. Jensen, a graduate of Washington State University, has spent more than two
ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has promoted David Fitzsimmons to senior vice president of finance and administration. Previously NACDS’ vice president of finance and accounting, Fitzsimmons succeeds Jim Huber, who retired last month as executive vice president and chief financial officer after 25 years with the association. A certified public
