SEATTLE — While negotiations over pharmacy reimbursement rates continue, Walgreen Co. has delayed its plan to stop filling Medicaid prescriptions at more than half of its stores in Washington state. “We’re encouraged by the state’s willingness to continue working with us to find a solution that will allow all of our stores to continue serving
RALEIGH, N.C. — Kerr Drug Inc.’s Kerr Health subsidiary has launched a web site designed to communicate the health care services provider’s offerings to doctors, patients, caregivers and employers. The new site, www.kerrhealth.com, provides information about Kerr Health’s menu of services, including consultation with pharmacists and nurses (available 24 hours a day), synchronization of medications,
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Drugstore.com has expanded its service offerings with AtHisBest.com, which the company calls the first online store dedicated to providing a full selection of men’s grooming, health, home, fitness, sexual and personal care needs. The retailer says the new site is designed for the way men want to shop today, offering them an
To those who have come to know and admire Greg Wasson, the just-announced Walgreens acquisition of Duane Reade comes as no surprise. Indeed, in the year that has passed since Wasson was named chief executive officer of the Walgreen Co., he has thrown off surprises and excitement like a pinwheel. In acquiring Duane Reade, he
CAMP HILL, Pa. — John Standley, president and chief operating officer of Rite Aid Corp., will take over as chief executive officer in June, succeeding Mary Sammons, who will continue to serve as chairman until June 2012. The promotion is part of the chain’s leadership succession plan and was approved at a recent regular meeting
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — In an effort to boost efficiencies, cut costs and get closer to the consumer, Walmart has undertaken a major structural reorganization. While some of the most visible changes are in the company’s field operations team, merchandising and procurement have also been targeted. The Walmart U.S. division is resorting its field operations organization
WASHINGTON — Health care reform will apparently come later rather than sooner. With the shift of one Senate seat, last year’s most pressing issue for President Barack Obama and the Democratic majority in Congress has moved to the back burner. The surprise January election of Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown ended the Democrats’ filibuster-proof Senate majority
SAN FRANCISCO — Health Mart, McKesson Corp.’s nationwide network of independently owned pharmacies, has set a milestone with the addition of its 2,500th pharmacy. “We joined Health Mart to take advantage of the innovative marketing, operational and patient care programs,” says Tom Fakih, owner of Trudell Health Mart Pharmacy of Dearborn, Mich. “Then we found
DEERFIELD, Ill. — In support of its efforts to add perishable food offerings to many of its stores, Walgreen Co. has hired veteran convenience store executive Jim Jensen to serve as its new divisional merchandise manager of fresh foods. Jensen comes to Walgreens from Fresh & Easy Markets, the convenience-oriented food chain that is operated
NEW YORK — Duane Reade Inc. has launched a new customer rewards program. Executives explain that the program — called Duane Reade FlexRewards — is easier to use and leads to faster rewards than Dollar Rewards, which was the chain’s previous loyalty program. “As the name suggests, FlexRewards is a much more flexible, rewarding and
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark Corp. is expanding its reach in terms of the markets it serves and the savings it provides to customers. With more than 7,000 stores, the drug chain made its entry into the St. Louis market last month, opening four stores in the region in a single week. At the same
MIAMI — Navarro Discount Pharmacies has opened a pediatric prescription window at one of its Miami outlets. The window was created to assist parents, particularly working mothers of children with urgent health needs, who require medication. “Mothers are usually pressed for time, and for children it is important to get their medication as soon as
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has moved two executives into new positions. Senior vice president of strategic business development Chris Hall has become senior vice president of pharmacy business development. Vice president of financial accounting and treasury Matt Schroeder, meanwhile, has been promoted to the role of group vice president of strategy and
Here are seven events guaranteed to be resolved, debated, dismissed or disregarded in the chain drug industry over the course of 2010. 1. CVS Caremark will finally begin to get the Caremark part of that designation right by taking advantage of many of the synergies between the PBM and the drug chain that have thus
