WASHINGTON — The clock is ticking on implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), with less than two months to go until the October 1 deadline for state health insurance exchanges to be open for business. With the Obama presidency riding in part on the law’s outcome, the White House has established a team to
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — No one in 1997 would have predicted that Josh Flum would become one of the most important pharmacy executives in the country. That year he graduated from Yale Law School and started on a journey that took him from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, where he served as
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Healthcare Clinic is the new name for Walgreen Co.’s in-store clinics, replacing the Take Care Clinic name that has stood since the brand’s inception in 2004. A national rebranding for the chain’s more than 370 clinics is expected to be complete by the end of the month. Besides the changes that are
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — NEHI has issued a report highlighting what it terms six “priorities for action” to improve patient medication adherence. The report underlines the importance of increasing awareness of medication therapy management (MTM). The NEHI report follows closely on the heels of efforts by pharmacy advocates, including the National Association of Chain Drug Stores
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has kicked off a marketing campaign for its new loyalty program catering to customers age 65 and older. Based on the wellness+ program Rite Aid introduced in 2010, the new initiative is called wellness65+ and offers benefits that include expanded access to the chain’s pharmacists as well a
BOULDER, Colo. — Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy Inc. has expanded its Natural Beauty Bar services concept to five additional stores. The services, launched last year at Pharmaca’s store in Pacific Palisades, Calif., are now also available in the chain’s outlets in Brentwood, Menlo Park, Novato and Oakland, Calif., as well as in Portland, Ore. The Natural
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Express Scripts Inc. (ESI) and Walgreen Co. have launched Smart90 Walgreens, a new option for ESI clients seeking 90-day prescriptions for patients with chronic diseases. Under the new option, health plan sponsors who choose to include Walgreens as part of the Smart90 program in their pharmacy benefits will provide plan members with
TORONTO — Community pharmacy advocates in Canada have thrown their support behind the most recent effort by the country’s provincial governments to manage health care costs while ensuring access to high-quality care. “CACDS [the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores]looks forward to ongoing work with Canada’s premiers as they consider key initiatives that can strengthen
Loblaw Cos.’ pending acquisition of Canada’s Shoppers Drug Mart drug chain is but the latest example of a global chain drug store business that continues to pursue realignment, if not consolidation. At first glance, the Loblaws-Shoppers tie-up makes little sense. Clearly, these are two separate businesses. They operate differently, cater to a different customer base,
The run-up to the launch of the centerpiece of the nation’s health care reform plan isn’t going smoothly. In 44 days people currently without insurance will start to seek information about the new options available to them under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, which was intended to bring 30 million
Offering fast-moving consumer goods such as cold beverages, magazines, candy, gum and mints at checkout is the tried-and-true formula for ensuring quick turns on low-margin items with high consumer demand. Chain drug stores have traditionally offered a predictable and low-maintenance assortment of merchandise that reliably has done its job: attract shoppers’ attention and contribute penny
Unlike traditional skin care products, which are typically used for moisturizing, medicated skin care products provide relief from such conditions as acne, eczema, rashes and itching, rosacea, warts, and psoriasis. These products can be found across the store in multiple categories, or in a special medicated skin care section or end-cap display. Companies that specialize
Little has changed in the makeup of the top pharmacy retailers over the past year, but competition is sure to keep intensifying amid the changes being brought by health care reform. The top 10 players in retail pharmacy remained the same in terms of prescription dollar volume and pharmacy count, according to the 2013 Annual
TORONTO — The market reacted enthusiastically to last month’s joint announcement that Loblaw Cos. would acquire Shoppers Drug Mart for $12.4 billion (Canadian). SDM shares immediately rose 24%, close to the value of the offer. Unusually for the stock of an acquiring company, Loblaws’ shares also showed upside, gaining 5.4%. Under the terms of the
