|
Retail News Breaks Archives Walgreen Co. has taken the wraps off the previously announced realignment of its merchandising division. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding its draft federal upper limit (FUL) list. Though the front end has traditionally been the province of chain drug stores, independent pharmacies are driving sales at a faster rate in six health-related categories, according to a new report from Hamacher Resource Group Inc. The Senate has voted down a measure that would have enabled personal importation of prescription drugs into the United States. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is relying on flawed average manufacturer price (AMP) data to calculate new caps on Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement — known as federal upper limits (FULs) — for multiple-source generic prescription drugs, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association. The Cardinal Health Foundation and the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy are releasing a new, interactive tool kit designed to educate senior citizens about how to avoid misuse of prescription drugs. An arbitrator has denied injunctive relief to Walgreen Co. and Express Scripts Inc. in the pharmacy benefit manager's lawsuit against the drug chain. A new coalition of consumers, businesses and community pharmacists nationwide has formed to speak out against the proposed merger of pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts Inc. and Medco Health Solutions Inc. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has given federal lawmakers focused on deficit reduction a heads-up when it comes to diabetes testing supplies for Medicare patients. In the wake of restructuring of its marketing staff, Walgreen Co. is now shaking things up in merchandising. Consumers take care not to pick up germs but could be more diligent in preventing flu, including getting an annual flu shot, according to a recent CVS/pharmacy survey. The National Community Pharmacists Association has devised a pair of new advertisements that spotlight how community pharmacists can help lower federal health care costs. CVS/pharmacy has added social network connectivity to all of its photo centers with Kodak Picture Kiosks. Rexall has teamed up with the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation for the launch of Gi BodyGuard, a free mobile application to help consumers track their gastrointestinal health. For National Diabetes Month, Walgreen Co. and Novo Nordisk Inc. have partnered to provide a free needle disposal system for patients who self-inject. Rite Aid Corp. is offering shoppers an expanded selection of Halloween products online. CVS/pharmacy has launched a promotion in which loyalty card customers earn free gift cards by purchasing designated items. Walgreen Co. will remain in the Express Scripts Inc. pharmacy network for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and has made an offer to the pharmacy benefit manager to continue serving the Department of Defense's Tricare pharmacy program in 2012.
|
