CAMP HILL, Pa. — Mary Sammons has a lot to feel good about these days at Rite Aid Corp. After enduring unexpected challenges with the integration of the former Brooks Eckerd Pharmacy stores it acquired, an economic downturn that has stunted sales growth and a meltdown of the financial markets that raised doubts about its
WASHINGTON — Efforts to pass health care reforms took a major step forward late last month when House Democratic leaders reached an agreement with fiscally conservative members of their party. The so-called Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally conservative House Democrats, had objected to the legislation’s estimated $1 trillion cost over 10 years and
WASILLA, Alaska — Walgreen Co. celebrated the grand opening of its first store in Alaska and its presence in all 50 states last month. “More than 100 years ago our founder, Charles Walgreen Sr., would remind his customers, ‘You’re always welcome at Walgreens,’ ” said Mark Wagner, executive vice president of operations and community management for
SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs began a series of three store openings this year with the July 20 opening of its 55th store at Lake Serene in Lynnwood, Wash. The 16,400-square-foot location will employ approximately 25 associates. The new Lake Serene store replaces the Mukilteo Speedway location and provides customers with a larger, modernized store with
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has urged the House of Representatives to improve Medicare Part D and control prescription drug spending in health care reform legislation. In letters to House committee leaders the association urged that pro-patient and pro-pharmacy measures — including Medicaid reform, access to durable medical equipment supplies
BOULDER, Colo. — Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy has appointed Mark Panzer as its chief executive officer. Panzer has served as the company’s chief operating officer since October 2008. “It is very inspiring to have a leadership role in such an innovative and transformational business,” he says. Previous chief executive officer Barry Perzow will continue providing leadership
NEW YORK — Duane Reade Inc. has bolstered its merchandising team in a flurry of personnel moves as it pushes ahead with major store-optimization and marketing initiatives. The drug chain has hired Paul Tiberio as senior director of category management. The company says Tiberio will lead the category management team and help redefine the Duane
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. has announced a number of executive promotions. Wade Miquelon has been promoted to the position of executive vice president and chief financial officer, while John Spina was named corporate vice president of retail integration and new format development. Miquelon joined Walgreens as senior vice president and chief financial officer in
TORONTO — The government of Ontario is moving quickly to achieve further savings and greater efficiency in its drug plan. According to the province’s health ministry, there are five main reasons why a second round of reform is needed: There is a growing demand for prescription drugs, which will result in increased government costs; spending
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark Corp. has named Dr. Andrew Sussman president and chief operating officer of its MinuteClinic business. In addition, he has been made CVS Caremark’s senior vice president and associate chief medical officer. Sussman was previously executive vice president and chief operating officer of UMass Memorial Medical Center, the major teaching arm
WASHINGTON — More than 100 community pharmacy advocates from over 30 states met with legislators as part of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ inaugural RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill on June 17. The meetings were supplemented by approximately 1,000 letters submitted through NACDS’ RxImpact web site as part of a grassroots campaign to
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) have filed with a federal appeals court a legal brief challenging the First DataBank and Medi-Span Inc. settlements, which reduce average wholesale prices (AWPs). The two trade associations were joined in the brief by pharmacies asserting that the AWP
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — This quarter CVS Caremark Corp. is slated to begin piloting its Consumer Engagement Engine, a data integration and intelligence solution that is designed to boost prescription drug adherence and effectiveness by providing a comprehensive view of the customer. Executive vice president and chief medical officer Troy Brennan outlined the system and its
