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Inside This Issue - News
Though uncertainty still surrounds the economy and the U.S. health care reform law, North American drug chains have carved out a role as wellness providers. The editors of Chain Drug Review have named the employees of Walgreen Co. — and more particularly, five of the company’s top executives — as the publication’s 2011 Chain Drug Retailers of the Year. Absent the last-minute shopping surge that rescued holiday sales a year ago, Christmas 2011 was in the main a dismal event for the nation’s drug chains. CVS Caremark Corp. is capitalizing on its “integration sweet spots” to drive growth. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores wants to ensure that Congress has the facts straight regarding the planned merger of Express Scripts Inc. and Medco Health Solutions Inc. Rite Aid Corp. has expanded its wellness+ customer loyalty program. Extending the horizons of its innovative 40 Wall St. store, Duane Reade has opened a midtown Manhattan drug store with still more novel food and beauty care offerings. Community pharmacy advocates say concerns by 40 members of Congress that proposed Medicaid reimbursement rates are inadequate could eventually lead to changes in the plan. Walgreen Co. corporate vice president and chief innovation officer Colin Watts has left the chain to join Weight Watchers International Inc. as senior vice president of wellness and global innovation. About 60 Medicine Shoppe International (MSI) and Medicap pharmacy owners have filed an arbitration claim against their franchisors alleging lack of support. Hy-Vee chairman and chief executive officer Ric Jurgens says he will retire in June. Community pharmacy in Canada is grappling with a new reality as payers strive to limit drug expenditures and other health care costs while opportunities open up for pharmacists to deliver new, remunerated services. With a recent study from IBM showing the percentage of consumers using mobile devices to shop has nearly tripled over the past year, CVS/pharmacy has made its entire cvs.com catalog available through its mobile site.
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