|
Inside This Issue - News
Health care reform took a major step closer to becoming a reality late last month when Democrats in the Senate were able to muster the necessary votes to block a Republican filibuster and move their proposal forward. With the industry’s smaller chains facing what many have described as an uphill battle, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Regional Chain Conference next month will touch on a variety of topics relevant to the future of those companies. As the House and Senate health care bills go into the reconciliation process, 16 representatives have urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) to consider a higher federal upper limit (FUL) to determine reimbursements for Medicaid prescriptions filled with generic drugs. Per Lofberg has been named president of CVS Caremark Corp.’s pharmacy benefits management business. In addition, the company has appointed Lisa Bisaccia as senior vice president and chief human resources officer. CVS Caremark Corp. has received a two-year extension on its contract with the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) to provide pharmacy benefits for two years. Drugstore.com has formed a multiyear partnership with optical store chain operator Luxottica Group SpA to expand online access to contact lenses in North America. Recession, unemployment, family, weather, an extra shopping day, convenience, price points under $10 and inventory management all impacted the 2009 holiday selling season. These factors combined to provide America’s chain drug retailers with a Christmas selling season most have gladly accepted — and a handful truly enjoyed. Alliance Boots, the multifunctional global retailer and wholesaler, one that dominates the United Kingdom’s retail drug store segment, towers over Europe’s wholesale drug business and brings to the international retail community one of the planet’s dominant and most respected consumer goods brands, has been named the 2009 Global Chain Drug Retailer of the Year by the editors of Chain Drug Review. To hear Andy Giancamilli tell it, one of the surest avenues to success in business, as in life, is to be in the right place at the right time. Throughout the course of his 34-year career in community pharmacy and mass market retailing, the chief executive officer of Katz Group North America and current chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores has often found himself in such circumstances and consistently capitalized on them. In just over a year as chief merchandising officer of Duane Reade Inc., Joe Magnacca has put his stamp on the chain in a way equaled by few other retailers. In recognition of his leadership in a rapidly changing industry, the editors of Chain Drug Review have named Walgreen Co. senior vice president of pharmacy Kermit Crawford the Chain Drug Pharmacy Executive of the Year. The editors of Chain Drug Review have named Greg Wasson, president and chief executive officer of Walgreen Co., the publication’s 2009 Chain Drug Retailer of the Year.
|
