Lupin 2024

Jeffrey Woldt

ACA progresses, but costs still a big hurdle

ACA progresses, but costs still a big hurdle

Several recent reports help illuminate the state of the nation’s health care reform efforts by examining progress under major aspects of the Affordable Care Act. President Obama signed the legislation into law in March 2010 with three overarching objectives — establishing new protections for health care consumers, enhancing access to care, and improving quality while

Payments issue shows Anderson at his best

Payments issue shows Anderson at his best

National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and CEO Steve Anderson recently provided the group’s members with an update about implementation of the new rule governing reimbursement to pharmacy operators for prescriptions filled under the Medicaid program. His remarks are of interest, both for what they say about the issue and for the style of

NACDS Foundation spurs health care research

NACDS Foundation spurs health care research

Decisions about health care will increasingly be based on evidence that, when applied to the individual circumstances of a patient, supports the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of one course of treatment over another. In the new world of health care, providers are striving to achieve better outcomes through enhanced quality and improved efficiency. To that end,

On RxImpact Day, Congress gets powerful message

On RxImpact Day, Congress gets powerful message

WASHINGTON — At a time when the American political system and legislative process are, more often than not, characterized by gridlock, and the ongoing presidential campaign is riddled with examples of what are seemingly new lows in civilized discourse and rational debate, it’s refreshing to see moments when our democracy functions properly. One day last

Battle to build scale is now a global contest

Battle to build scale is now a global contest

  McKesson Corp.’s agreement to acquire Rexall Health from Katz Group is notable in several respects. The transaction alters the balance of power in the Canadian pharmacy market. In addition, it offers confirmation, if any were needed, of the relentless drive among major players in the sector to increase their scale and, in the process,

AMP issue illustrates the pressure on Rx

AMP issue illustrates the pressure on Rx

After years of political and legal wrangling, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its final rule on Covered Outpatient Drugs, which governs reimbursement to retail pharmacies for generic medications dispensed under Medicaid. The history of the regulation goes all the way back to the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA), which

As health care battle persists, pharmacy moves ahead

As health care battle persists, pharmacy moves ahead

    Clearly, health care reform will remain a contentious issue during the current presidential election cycle and beyond. The House of Representatives started the new year by voting to gut the Affordable Care Act. Passage of the legislation, by a 240-to-181 margin that closely mirrored the breakdown among parties in the Republican-controlled body, together

Status quo in retail pharmacy won’t suffice

Status quo in retail pharmacy won’t suffice

In many significant ways, the chain drug store business looks very different at the start of 2016 than it did a year ago. Walgreens Boots Alliance, which emerged from a two-step merger process at the close of 2014, spent the past 12 months rationalizing operations in the United States and developing synergies with its retail

Paradigm shift in mass retailing now under way

Paradigm shift in mass retailing now under way

The retailing business in the United States may have reached an inflection point during the period around Black Friday, traditionally seen as the start of the holiday selling season. While reports from different sources about retailers’ performance during the last week of November don’t neatly align, the consensus is that e-commerce continues to gain ground

Health care partnerships are wave of the future

Health care partnerships are wave of the future

The move toward closer cooperation among providers is one of the more intriguing developments in health care, one that promises to improve patient outcomes and limit expenditures in a sector that accounts for almost 20% of the nation’s gross domestic product. The rationale behind the partnerships, and the role of community pharmacies within them, is

Rx makers should work to reframe pricing debate

Rx makers should work to reframe pricing debate

The 2016 presidential race is already well under way. Despite thousands of speeches, interviews and, on the Republican side, two debates, there is a lot about the candidates’ thinking that needs to be clarified. One thing, however, is certain —  health care will be a prominent issue as the process of choosing Barack Obama’s successor

Health care reform process far from over

Health care reform process far from over

The major provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act have been in effect for almost two years now, enough time to undertake an interim analysis of the controversial law’s impact on the health care system. President Obama and other advocates of the ACA, which since its enactment in March 2010 has withstood two

Future belongs to tech-savvy retailers

Future belongs to tech-savvy retailers

The power of digital technology to shake up existing business models in health care and mass market retailing was a focal point for many of the executives in attendance at last month’s NACDS Total Store Expo in Denver. The changes that have occurred during the first few decades of the information age have been, in

Brick-and-mortar retailers can counter Amazon

Brick-and-mortar retailers can counter Amazon

Results from Amazon’s Prime Day promotion last month raise some interesting questions for all retailers that compete with the e-commerce giant, a group that has come to include chain drug stores, other mass marketers and practically any seller of consumer goods. Held in conjunction with Ama­zon’s 20th anniversary, the event was designed to reward shoppers

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