BALTIMORE — Rite Aid Corp. this month celebrated the grand reopening of a store destroyed in the Baltimore riots earlier this year. Executive vice president of operations Bryan Everett was joined by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D., Md.), Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and other city, state and community officials at a ribbon cutting marking the reopening
NEW YORK — Chain drug retailers across the country are carrying out extensive outreach programs to provide consumers with access to information and resources for Medicare Part D and health insurance marketplace coverage options. Medicare Part D annual enrollment began October 15 and runs through December 7. The enrollment period for Marketplace plans is November
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is again using its scale to bolster health care. The retailer has begun an initiative focusing on preventive care and supporting overall well-being across its entire assortment — in stores and online — through events, education, and an expanded assortment of products and services. For the second year, Walmart is working
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health has expanded a national partnership with the Arthritis Foundation to help advance arthritis advocacy, research and patient support. The announcement coincided with the October 12 observance of World Arthritis Day. As part of the partnership, CVS/specialty, the specialty pharmacy segment of CVS Health, will be designated an Arthritis Foundation Partner
BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons Cos. said that its planned initial public offering has been postponed indefinitely. The announcement came on October 14, the day that Walmart shares fell 10% — their largest one-day decline in nearly 30 years — after the company warned that its earnings would decline in the fiscal year that begins in
TORONTO — Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) has wrapped up a 15-day celebration across Canada commemorating the 15th anniversary of its Shoppers Optimum loyalty program. The retailer hosted an outdoor party at Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square on October 7 and invited people to step inside a life-size Shoppers Optimum confetti globe for a chance to win prizes,
SAN FRANCISCO — Health Mart is kicking off its third town hall event series to help pharmacies implement medication synchronization. The “Get in Sync: Medication Synchronization” events encourage pharmacists to consider an appointment-based model with medication synchronization, shifting them from reactive prescription filling to a service orientation. Health Mart will host more than 100 complimentary
TORONTO — Canadians love getting their flu vaccinations at neighborhood pharmacies, according to research released by the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (Neighbourhood Pharmacies). Over 95% of those surveyed indicated they were “very satisfied” with the care they received; just 1% were “neither satisfied nor unsatisfied” with the experience. Canadians also appreciate the pharmacy flu
The Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) will co-host a one-day pharmacy quality ratings workshop with the American Pharmacists Association, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacists Association and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations. The program will be held at the Westin Hotel in Old Town Alexandria, Va., on November 9.
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart named new head merchants for its Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club divisions, and designated a successor to its chief financial officer, who is retiring. Steve Bratspies, who most recently served as executive vice president of food for Walmart U.S., has taken the reins as chief merchandising officer of the division. In
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is lowering the bar for earnings over the next several quarters as it invests in a longer-term rebound by improving the store experience and expanding e-commerce capabilities, and merging the two to offer a seamless experience for shoppers. The bulk of the investment will occur in the fiscal year ending in
MEMPHIS — Fred’s Inc. has hired retail pharmacy veteran John Foley as executive vice president of store operations. Foley assumed his duties on October 7. He succeeded Mike Holligan, who was named to the open position of regional vice president of store operations for Fred’s. Foley is expected to help Fred’s continue to develop a
WASHINGTON — Slow growth is foreseen for health insurance enrollment through the Affordable Care Act exchanges, the Obama administration said this month. Coverage by the end of 2016 will barely exceed current levels, the administration said. Sign-ups during the ACA’s upcoming open enrollment season will bring the number of covered individuals to 10 million, up
The move toward closer cooperation among providers is one of the more intriguing developments in health care, one that promises to improve patient outcomes and limit expenditures in a sector that accounts for almost 20% of the nation’s gross domestic product. The rationale behind the partnerships, and the role of community pharmacies within them, is
