June 19, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-25-2012, News
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. has extended its partnership with the pharmacy benefits management company OptumRx for several more years. Executives say the extended agreement provides continued, long-term access to Walgreens pharmacy services at more than 7,800 locations nationwide for members of prescription drug benefit plans managed by OptumRx. “Walgreens offers both the pharmacy and
June 19, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-25-2012, News
SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs and the Space Needle have established a multidimensional partnership in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the structure — the centerpiece of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. The Space Needle and Bartell will collaborate on a variety of community-focused promotions and events throughout the anniversary. Bartell has already invited customers to
June 19, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-25-2012, News
NEW YORK — U.S. health care spending should grow at an historically low rate of 7.5% this year, a pace that could emerge as the standard course for the immediate future, according to the annual “Behind the Numbers” report on medical cost trend, published by the Health Research Institute (HRI) of PricewaterhouseCoopers U.S. (PwC). The
June 15, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-25-2012, Opinion
Quickly now, who is the most innovative, enlightened and successful drug retailing/wholesaling executive on the planet? Is it a) Larry Merlo, b) Greg Wasson, c) John Standley or d) Stefano Pessina. If you answered d), you clearly know your way around the retail and wholesale drug business. If you’ve never heard of d), your education
June 15, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-25-2012, Opinion
As retailers and suppliers go about their business at the final National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference, which runs through Tuesday at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, it’s not too early to start thinking about the event that will succeed it on the retail calendar in 2013. Billed as the next generation
June 15, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-25-2012, Opinion
June 8, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-11-2012, News
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Walmart will run all facets of its business with integrity, chief executive Mike Duke and chairman Rob Walton vowed at the company’s annual shareholders meeting earlier this month. The retailer is committed to corporate scruples “everywhere that we operate,” said Duke, “and we are working to continually strengthen this.” Addressing allegations of
June 8, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-11-2012, News
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Larry Merlo’s initial year as chief executive officer of CVS Caremark Corp. has been a remarkable one indeed. Not that you’d notice if you confined your examination, analysis and interpretation to the CVS drug store chain. His true contribution has come from his efforts to transform the Caremark pharmacy benefits manager from
June 8, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-11-2012, News
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. president and chief executive officer John Standley will take on the additional responsibilities of chairman at the company’s annual shareholders meeting this month. He will succeed Mary Sammons, who has served as chairman since June 2007, and whose term expires at the June 21 meeting. “John is a
June 8, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-11-2012, News
DENVER — When it comes to reaching and influencing the mass retailing community, the most creative marketing mind in America today belongs to Scott Emerson, head of the Emerson Group, itself one of the creative companies when it comes to brand marketing. To encourage the involvement of retail attendees at the 2012 National Association of
June 8, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-11-2012, News
TORONTO — Shoppers Drug Mart’s (SDM’s) annual meeting here last month marked a double anniversary — half a century since the company was founded, 10 years since it went public. Present to help mark the occasion was the redoubtable Murray Koffler, who, as usual at the company’s annual meetings, made a cameo appearance, reminding all
June 8, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-11-2012, News
DUBLIN, Ohio — Settling a government lawsuit charging that it improperly distributed large volumes of oxycodone, Cardinal Health Inc. has agreed to a two-year suspension of its Lakeland, Fla., distribution center’s registration to ship controlled substances. The settlement includes an agreement by Cardinal to improve certain anti-diversion procedures. “This agreement allows us to put this
June 8, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-11-2012, News
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. has developed what it says is an improved Prescription Savings Club program. Executives say they hope the program will help address what the company sees as a growing problem. Some estimates, they note, show that as many as one in four adults in the United States don’t have sufficient prescription
June 8, 2012 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 06-11-2012, News
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Pharmacy benefits management clients of CVS Caremark Corp. saved nearly $2.4 billion in 2011, in part because of the company’s focus on providing medication adherence programs for patients with chronic conditions. In its annual Insights Report, which reviews drug trend and highlights key issues in pharmacy care, CVS Caremark notes that the