BALTIMORE — Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will provide the opening keynote for the Pharmacy Quality Alliance’s 2018 Annual Meeting at the Hilton Baltimore next month. Verma will speak e on Wednesday, May 16th at 3:30 pm and will highlight CMS’ efforts to advance quality, value-based care including the Patients Over Paperwork
Albertsons Cos.’ deal to acquire Rite Aid Corp. looks to be a “win-win for both companies,” yet the merger wouldn’t be a cakewalk to see through successfully, observes Diana Sheehan, director of research and insights at retail specialist Kantar Consulting. On the plus side, both Albertsons and Rite Aid would benefit via increased scale and complementary
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has expanded nonprescription access to naloxone, an opioid-overdose reversal drug, to four more states. Rite Aid said Tuesday that naloxone is now available without a prescription at more than 440 pharmacies in Kentucky, Ohio, Oregon and Vermont, subject to state regulations. Previously, naloxone — administered by injection or
NEW YORK — Senate leaders have voiced concerns about a price surge for Mylan Inc.’s EpiPen, an epinephrine auto-injector for treating anaphylaxis, or potentially life-threatening allergic reactions. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R, Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sens. Susan Collins (R., Maine) and Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.), chairman and ranking member of the
WASHINGTON — The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) applauded remarks by two congressmen in support of pharmacist provider status legislation. APhA said Reps. Ron Kind (D., Wis.) and Todd Young (R., Ind.) issued statements this week to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health calling for pharmacists to have a bigger role in health care.
LOS ANGELES — Bonfit America Inc. is spotlighting its Steripod toothbrush protector for National Children’s Dental Health Month, held in February by the American Dental Association. The clip-on Steripod protector fits any standard or electronic toothbrush. Each Steripod sports a patented design and contains thymol — found in many mouthwashes and oral antiseptics — to
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. is widening the scope of health and wellness retailing. The drug chain’s recent addition of pharmacy benefit manager Envision Rx — plus the 2014 acquisitions of in-store clinic operator RediClinic and health coaching/analytics firm Health Dialog — bring its traditional pharmacy services into the bigger realm of retail
DEERFIELD, Ill. — When asked what motivates him, Stefano Pessina, the driving force behind the creation of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), says simply, “I like to build things.” The understated elegance of the response typifies the man, but it underplays the magnitude of his achievement. A savvy dealmaker, Pessina, who has a degree in nuclear
WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has reiterated its support for allowing members of the armed forces, their dependents and military retirees access and choice in selecting their source of prescription medicines. In a statement delivered during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services subcommittee on personnel, NACDS voiced its opposition to
