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Issues

Walgreens gets e-commerce edge with drugstore.com

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co.’s $409 million purchase of drugstore.com, which followed the sale of its pharmacy benefits management division, underlines the chain’s rededication to retailing in all its forms. It also contrasts Walgreens with rival CVS Caremark Corp., which has made pharmacy benefits management a core business. The drugstore.com acquisition “significantly accelerates our online

Threat of Medicaid cuts looms over retail pharmacy

NEW YORK — With state and federal lawmakers talking about curtailing Medicaid spending as a way to scale back budget deficits, drug chains across the country could face yet another economic challenge, executives and industry advocates say. “As states wrestle with budget difficulties and the need to reduce overall spending, we expect pressure to continue

Foulkes’ role at CVS expands

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Helena Foulkes has been named executive vice president and chief health care strategy and marketing officer at CVS Caremark Corp., a new post. In her new role she will unite the company’s capabilities in enterprise branding, communications, community relations, charitable giving, health care reform strategy, government relations and marketing into one integrated

Walmart names health care solutions chief

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Former WellPoint Inc. executive Dijuana Lewis has been named senior vice president of health care solutions at Walmart U.S. She will drive overall growth and profitability for the retailer’s health and wellness business, overseeing the development of innovative products and services for, and in collaboration with, payers. Her team will be responsible

Medication adherence is in the spotlight

WASHINGTON — The overwhelming and underappreciated cost of medication nonadherence was highlighted last month in a supplement in The Washington Post. The chain drug industry was well represented in the 12-page report, assembled by MediaPlanet Publishing Inc. and subtitled “Fixing America’s Other Drug Problem.” Contributors included National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and chief

CVS exec: Rx services just part of equation

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Chain drug retailers need to expand their health care offerings beyond the pharmacy if they hope to meet the needs of their current and future customers, contends CVS Caremark Corp. senior vice president and chief marketing officer Rob Price. Speaking at SymphonyIRI Group Inc.’s recent Summit 2011 event here, Price noted

Bartell event highlights health, beauty care

SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs staged a Health and Beauty Event featuring health screenings, free “mini-makeovers,” hairstyling tips and giveaways of products from cosmetics to specialty food items to candles. The event, which ran from March 21 through April 3 at selected outlets in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, Wash., featured discounted or free screenings at

NACDS tabs state government exec

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Jill McCormack has joined the National Association of Chain Drug Stores state government affairs team as a director of state government affairs. She will have an integral role with the team, directing NACDS’ pro-patient, pro-policy advocacy in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. Specifically, she

Civello cited as a ‘health care hero’

RALEIGH, N.C. — Kerr Drug president and chief executive officer Tony Civello has been named a Health Care Hero Lifetime Achievement Award winner by the Triangle Business Journal here. The publication’s editors say they chose Civello for this award because of his dedication to improving the quality of health care in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area

APhA, Cardinal team up to fight medication abuse

SEATTLE — The Cardinal Health Foundation and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) have formed a partnership to encourage pharmacists and student pharmacists to take an active role in preventing the abuse and misuse of prescription medications. The announcement was made at the APhA annual meeting and exposition here. “We believe that as trusted health care

Business group honors Navarro

MIAMI — Navarro Discount Pharmacy has received the Top 100 Minority Business Award from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Navarro is the largest Hispanic-owned drug chain in the United States. The retailer, which is now observing its 50th anniversary, was recognized for its commitment to the community at a luncheon honoring other minority-owned businesses

Walgreens, CVS are taking divergent paths

In the immediate aftermath of Walgreens’ announced purchase of drugstore.com, the burning questions of the moment in mass retailing are these: Is a drug store a retail outlet or a health care provider? Or can it be both? Clearly, Walgreens is buying drugstore.com for one reason: to gain greater access to its potential customers, particularly

CVS Caremark aims to heighten impact on Rx

When Larry Merlo became chief executive officer of CVS Caremark Corp. last month he made it clear that his top priority is to realize the full potential of the integrated pharmacy care model that has decisively shaped the evolution of the company in recent years. With the appointment of Helena Foulkes as chief health care

Rx advocates make case on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON — More than 350 drug chain executives, pharmacists and pharmacy students from across the country took to Capitol Hill earlier this month to lobby lawmakers about the role community pharmacy can play in controlling health care costs. The mass gathering that saw a sea of white coats strolling through the halls of the House

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