Lupin 2024

Issues

Courtman hones the Health Mart proposition

SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Courtman, president of Health Mart, the 3,126-store pharmacy franchise run by McKesson Corp., is confident the retailer has what it takes to flourish in an environment where the rules that have long governed health care delivery are in the process of being rewritten. “Because Health Mart combines the best of a

Jean Coutu fills its war chest

LONGUEUIL, Quebec — The Jean Coutu Group’s decision last month to sell its remaining Rite Aid Corp. stock has led some industry watchers to speculate that the company may be either looking to acquire another Canadian retailer or put itself on the block. After Coutu announced on July 17 that it would dispose of the

Rx loyalty cards become more prevalent

NEW YORK — The proportion of pharmacy customers who say they have a loyalty card or discount card or have been offered one was up significantly in the 2013 edition of the Pharmacy Satisfaction Pulse survey, conducted for Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. Virtually half (49%) of customers have a card or have been offered one,

Decision to delay ACA provision wins praise

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s decision to delay an Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandate that large employers provide coverage for workers is a “wise move,” said a top official with the National Retail Federation (NRF). “This one-year delay will provide employers and businesses more time to update their health care coverage without threat of arbitrary

Inaugural Total Store Expo gets under way

LAS VEGAS — The moment has arrived: Twenty-seven months after the National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced the creation of the Total Store Expo, the event is here. Unprecedented in scale and scope, the gathering kicks off this weekend, on Saturday, August 10, at Sands Expo and Convention Center here. Consolidating NACDS’ Marketplace, Pharmacy

Three chains won’t sell new issue of Rolling Stone

NEW YORK — The three major drug chains have banned sales of the August issue of Rolling Stone magazine, which pictures accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on its cover. CVS/pharmacy, Walgreen Co. and Rite Aid Corp. prohibited the sale of the publication in response to charges that the cover glorified Tsarnaev with a rock-star-like

Walgreens tabs Lelinski as VP of market access

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. has named Mark Lelinski corporate vice president of market access. Lelinski is responsible for contracting and pricing strategies and integration efforts across Walgreens’ pharmacy, health and wellness division; sales and account management; and overseeing the continued evolution of the company’s managed market strategies. “Mark is a seasoned leader with an

A primer on how to view Total Store Expo

The most eagerly anticipated event in the annals of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores — or, for that matter, any other retail trade organization — is finally upon us. The result is that some 5,200 people — a group that includes the NACDS board — are descending on Las Vegas to meet, talk,

Health care reform gives rise to rival Rx models

With less than two months to go before open enrollment in the new state health insurance exchanges begins, one of the great dramas in the history of retail pharmacy is about to unfold. Implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) major provisions will create opportunities for health care providers perceptive enough and skillful enough to

Martindale becomes Rite Aid president

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Ken Martindale, who has been a proponent of change and innovation at Rite Aid Corp., has been named the company’s president. The 53-year-old Martindale had been senior executive vice president and, since 2010, chief operating officer, a post he retains. He continues to report to Rite Aid chairman and chief executive

Educational campaign on ACA gets under way

WASHINGTON — Seeking to educate Americans about the upcoming health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Obama administration has relaunched a website and opened a 24-hour call center. The tools are designed to help people understand their choices and select the coverage that best suits their needs when open enrollment in the

In-store clinics will see surge in demand

NEW YORK — Demand from newly insured patients under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will double the number of retail clinics in the next three years, management consulting firm Accenture has projected. Walk-in clinics will drive $800 million in annual cost savings by 2015 and add capacity for 10.8 million patient visits per year, compared

Rite Aid unveils wellness65+

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has extended its wellness+ customer loyalty program with the launch of wellness65+. “Attracting new senior customers represents a key growth opportunity for Rite Aid because seniors tend to be our best pharmacy patients,” president and chief operating officer Ken Martindale says. “Growing its senior patient base gives Rite Aid

PP_1170x120_10-25-21