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Retail News Breaks Archives As President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats and Republicans square off over raising the debt ceiling, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores aims to ensure that patient access to pharmacy services isn't curtailed. The board of Walgreen Co. has given the green light to a new $2 billion share repurchase program and approved a 28.6% hike in the quarterly dividend, the biggest in the company's history. Ritzman Pharmacies Inc. and Buehler Food Markets Inc. are in negotiations about an alliance in which Ritzman would own and operate all of the supermarket chain's pharmacies. Rite Aid Corp. is rolling out an expanded lineup for its Thrifty Ice Cream private brand at its California locations. Ahold USA has named Raymond McCall senior vice president of pharmacy and health and beauty care. Navarro Discount Pharmacy has promoted chief financial officer Juan Ortiz to chief executive officer, replacing Steve Kacyznski. A coalition of pharmacists, businesses and consumers is urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reject California's state plan amendment that would reduce reimbursement rates for Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program, by 10%. Brick-and-mortar retailers — including drug, food and mass market chains — are scrambling to compete with Amazon.com in the e-commerce arena, especially on price, according to a study by investment firm William Blair & Co. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has joined with other retail pharmacy groups in urging congressional leaders to uphold patient access to diabetic testing supplies.
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