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Inside This Issue - News
Chain drug pharmacies are not just reacting to change in the health care system. They’re driving it. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is partnering with several retail pharmacy operators to help educate consumers about newly available Medicare benefits. Duane Reade has proven equal to the challenge of creating a worthy successor to its flagship store at 40 Wall Street in Manhattan, which after its debut in July 2011, quickly became a model of what the 21st-century drug store can be. Rite Aid Corp. has expanded the Load2Card capability for its growing wellness+ customer loyalty program. As part of its 50th anniversary celebration in September, Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) is launching a number of special activities and promotions. Walgreen Co. is teaming up with the University of Chicago Medicine to launch a “Food Rx” initiative designed to help people with diabetes improve their eating habits by making better food choices more accessible and affordable. Kinney Drugs has promoted Jim Spencer to chief operating officer. He had been vice president of retail operations. Bartell Drugs will move its corporate headquarters to West Seattle in October. With the end of summer in sight, the onset of flu season is just around the corner. Flu season can begin as early as October and continue through mid-May, but several drug chains have already unveiled flu vaccination programs to help consumers fend off the disease. Kroger Co. is adding self-service health screening kiosks to all 1,950 of its stores with pharmacies. CVS Caremark Corp. is part of a group of more than a dozen big retailers that have joined forces to develop a way for customers to use their smartphones to pay for purchases and receive customized offers. Retail sales rose in July for the first time in four months, according to the Commerce Department, and a survey of importers and manufacturers found them upbeat about the upcoming fall and winter shopping season.
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