ARLINGTON, Va. – Organizations representing pharmacies and pharmacists are urging that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adopt a phased, stepwise approach to the implementation of the enhanced drug distribution security (EDDS) requirements of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) that are scheduled to take effect on November 27, 2023. The action would go
NEW YORK — Technology is helping to change the landscape of retail pharmacy. Increased artificial intelligence and machine learning facilities, teamed with the lower cost of automated systems, have even placed automation within reach for smaller pharmacies. It is true that some mom and pop pharmacies have held onto traditional ways of doing things. But
PHILADELPHIA — Elixir, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rite Aid, announced the launch of a specialty generic medication enhancement to its managed copay solutions effective June 1, 2022. The enhancement allows members to receive generic versions of certain specialty medications at a $0 copay and has the potential to provide an average savings of up
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) regularly conduct audits on pharmacies to review their performance in relation to the PBM’s terms and conditions. There are several different types of compliance audits that PBMs may initiate, such as desktop, on-site, invoice or virtual. In order to be prepared for audits, pharmacies are encouraged to proactively undertake efforts to
Joe Biden provided validation of community pharmacy’s ongoing evolution in his State of the Union address at the beginning of the month. Speaking before a joint session of Congress, the president unveiled plans to increase the industry’s already formidable role in the ongoing quest to end the COVID pandemic. “We’re launching the Test to Treat
The intense pressure that retail pharmacists face when they go to work — where high demand for COVID immunizations and tests is layered on top of an already formidable array of other duties — was the subject of a recent report on “PBS NewsHour.” The segment consisted of excerpts from interviews with five pharmacists who
ARLINGTON, Va. – Nearly half of pharmacists and two-thirds of prescribers report an increase in technology use over the past 18 months, according to a new Surescripts survey. The survey also found the majority of pharmacists and many prescribers believe the responsibilities of care providers, including nurses, physician assistants, physicians, specialists and non-clinical professionals, have
BOSTON – RxSense, the health care technology company improving transparency and access to affordable medications, announced it will power enterprise solutions for pharmacy benefits administration to Vivid Clear Rx, a subsidiary of Hy-Vee, Inc. Hy-Vee is one of the nation’s leading grocery chains with more than 275 stores spanning eight states across the Midwest. With
FORT WORTH, Texas – FDS, a leading pharmacy technology company, and its subsidiary Amplicare, a provider of a decision-automation platform for healthcare providers, today announced significant growth and customer milestones, marking the dawn of a new era in the pharmacy market. In October 2020, Amplicare’s Medicare plan comparison platform, Amplicare Match, reported massive growth, onboarding nearly 200% more pharmacies compared
The more than 20,000 community pharmacies in the United States serve as a patient safety net for their communities during normal times and during times of emergencies. Hurricanes Sandy, Michael and Katrina. Tornadoes. Floods in the South and Midwest. Wildfires in California. The coronavirus we’re currently facing has been a bit different from some of
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens has opened more than 30 small-format pharmacies as part of a new pilot program. The new concept stores are about 13,500 square footage and are focused on delivering pharmacy and health and wellness products and services. “Walgreens continues to transform and align our operations with the goal of ensuring we have
ARLINGTON, Va.— On Monday, June 1, NACDS president and CEO Steven Anderson shared with NACDS chain members the following information: “I want you to be aware that NACDS is communicating urgently with each of the nation’s governors, with state attorneys general, with state boards of pharmacy, with U.S. Attorney General William Barr, and with the
As the retail pharmacy industry responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, companies in this space have had to keep in mind a variety of regulatory and enforcement concerns. Top among those are the threat of both government enforcement actions and private party civil litigation raising allegations of price gouging. In addition to forcing operational modifications to
Pharmacies have long been the front door to the country’s health care system. People choose their favorite pharmacy and make stopping by a habit. They drop in to pick up monthly prescriptions, ask the pharmacist for advice and, of course, snag retail items in the process. But can pharmacies hold on to this coveted position?
