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2013

SDM augments nutritional supplement offer

TORONTO — Shoppers Drug Mart has revamped its Life Brand line of vitamins and supplements and launched an online tool to help customers find health products. Executives explain that the online tool — the Life Brand Vitamin Finder — gives consumers round-the-clock access to a wealth of information about the growing range of vitamins, minerals,

Bartell tests digital print media kiosk

SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs is testing a state-of-the-art system that will let its customers print anything from a personal photo book to a classic novel in just minutes. The full-service digital-to-print media center features On Demand Books’ in-store Espresso Book Machine integrated with Kodak Picture Kiosks. It is being introduced at Bartell’s University Village store

Bahl joins CVS as an exec VP

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark Corp. has named longtime health care industry veteran Tracy Bahl executive vice president of health plans. He will oversee the company’s teams that support its health plan clients and help them navigate the nation’s evolving health care system. Bahl joins CVS Caremark after nearly three decades as a health care

Johns Hopkins, Walgreens ramp up partnership

BALTIMORE — With the opening of a new store here in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), Walgreen Co. has re-emphasized the role of retail pharmacy in bringing new health and wellness services to communities, reinforced the benefits of pharmacy working with other health care providers to improve outcomes and lower costs and helped to

The ideal choice to run the CVS drug chain

It’s not that Mark Cosby, the departing president of the CVS drug chain, was not respected. After all, here was an executive with an extensive retailing background, most notably at Sears and Macy’s. The drawback was that Cosby was not a chain drug retailer. As such, he lacked several of the requisites for leadership in

Integrity of Rx supply chain strengthened

While the new regulations governing pharmacy compounding contained in the Drug Quality and Security Act, which received final congressional approval and was signed into law by President Obama last month, garnered most of the media attention, the bigger story is the provisions of the legislation giving the Food and Drug Administration the authority to create

Obama gives ground on health insurance rules

WASHINGTON — Answering criticism from opponents of the Affordable Care Act and members of his own party, President Obama announced this month that health insurance plans that were canceled because of the ACA can be renewed for another year. The cancellations, most effective on January 1, were widely denounced, partly because the president had promised

Problems with exchange keep ACA enrollment figures down

NEW YORK — With the federal government’s new health care exchange beset by technical problems, the number of health plan enrollees through the first month of operation was far below expectations. Meanwhile, the administration promises that the problems will be fixed by the end of November appear increasingly doubtful. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Rite Aid’s new vision of beauty

NEW YORK — Rite Aid Corp. is testing a new beauty concept in some of its “wellness store” locations in several markets. Dubbed Beauty Vision, the concept brings an enhanced presentation, broader product mix and more upscale offerings to the beauty department, as well as a new service associate called the Beauty Adviser. “In select

Health Mart ramps up marketing

SAN FRANCISCO — McKesson Corp. has launched a new Local Marketing Support program for its Health Mart franchised stores. Executives say the program will help pharmacy owners develop new revenue streams and promote themselves as community health care providers. “Health Mart pharmacies excel at local, personalized service,” says Steve Courtman, the network’s president. “However, many

Walgreens exec joins Alliance Boots

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. veteran Richard Ashworth has been appointed director of health care, health and beauty for the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland at Alliance Boots GmbH. “Richard’s two decades of health care experience, leadership and service to Walgreens in a variety of roles has been invaluable to our company as we

Mental health coverage now mandated

WASHINGTON — Health insurers will have to cover mental illness to the same degree as physical ailments as the Obama administration carries out the largest expansion of behavioral health care in a generation. The new rules halt a practice in which insurers have been able to charge higher co-payments or deductibles for mental illness and

Shrank to head research at CVS Caremark

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark Corp. has named Dr. William Shrank chief scientific officer and chief medical officer for provider innovation and analytics. Shrank will focus on developing pharmacy solutions aimed at improving quality of care while lowering costs to help health care providers deliver services to distinct patient populations. He will also oversee the

Target extends beauty concierge plan

MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp. has added beauty concierges in 95 stores in New York and New Jersey, the San Francisco Bay area and Dallas-Fort Worth. The concierge is a brand-agnostic expert stationed to answer beauty care customers’ questions. She offers personalized, detailed and unbiased information about beauty and personal care products in what can sometimes

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