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Retail News Breaks Archives Ongoing softness in front-of-store business likely will rein in sales growth for drug retailers next year, according to a 2010 U.S. retail outlook report released this week by Fitch Ratings. Take Care Health Systems, the retail clinic subsidiary of Walgreen Co., has received the rest of its seasonal flu vaccine supply for the year and is now providing immunizations at its locations nationwide. In a hearing on Capitol Hill, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores told legislators that community pharmacies stand ready to take an active role as the nation prepares for the H1N1 "swine flu" pandemic. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is working with technology provider RollStream Inc. to deploy a certificate exchange platform for compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). With the end of 2009 nearing, drugstore.com is pointing customers with "use it or lose it" balances remaining in flexible spending accounts to its online FSA Store for savings on thousands of items. CVS Caremark Corp. drug stores in Florida have begun offering Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Health Cards, which offer savings on health insurance and health care services. Rite Aid Corp. is offering a free Medicare Part D planning guide in stores, along with pharmacist counseling and online tools, to help senior citizens during the enrollment period for the prescription drug coverage. Despite tailing off slightly over the next couple of years, growth in the retail health clinic market stands to remain robust going forward, according a report by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. The Mississippi State Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling that stops the state from implementing a policy that would have slashed Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement for certain generic drugs.
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