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Retail News Breaks Archives Walgreen Co. is offering pertussis immunizations at its approximately 275 points of care in Arizona as health officials in the state are urging residents to make sure they're vaccinated against whooping cough. Retail pharmacy's role with accountable care organizations (ACOs) is among the hot topics in health care, and Sav-Mor Franchising is performing due diligence to gauge its participation in that area of health care reform, president and chief executive officer Richard Grossman said. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores voiced its support for the Senate legislative package that will serve as a starting point for the reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). After a letup in the pace of expansion, the Uniprix Group has been able to re-energize its activity. To cultivate their role as health care providers, community pharmacists must provide value to patients beyond the clinical benefits of the medicine they've been prescribed, according to Chuck Wilson, vice president of pharmacy operations for Health Mart. Robust front-end business lifted sales and earnings at Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. in the first quarter. For the chain drug retailing sector, the next several years or more will be crucial, according to Steve Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. A federal judge has denied an effort by retail pharmacy groups to prevent pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts Inc. and Medco Health Solutions Inc. from merging. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has recognized Andy Giancamilli, former chief executive officer of Katz Group Canada, with the Sheldon W. Fantle Lifetime Achievement Award and M. Jerome Brown, former vice president of industry and customer development at Unilever, with the Robert B. Begley Award. A set of pharmacy programs by Walgreen Co. are driving higher rates of patient adherence to their prescribed medications. Well over 90% of Internet drug outlets don't comply with U.S. pharmacy laws, in turn driving prescription drug abuse and misuse and facilitating the entry of counterfeit medications into the U.S. drug supply, a study by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) found. The National Community Pharmacists Association has submitted recommendations to federal lawmakers as a Senate committee readies legislation to reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation has named executives from Rite Aid Corp., GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer Inc. to its board of directors for the 2012-13 term. Opportunities for pronounced gains in market share by the top chain drug retailers are few, but several catalysts stand to propel pharmacy business, according to industry observers. Walgreen Co. has launched a new online tool that lets customers choose a pharmacist by matching their health care needs with the expertise, specialties, languages and clinical backgrounds of Walgreens pharmacists. The Ontario Pharmacists' Association (OPA) called an Ontario government plan to cut pharmacy reimbursement for generic drugs misguided, noting that such a move would mark the second such reduction in two years. BioScrip Inc. has named Hai Tran as senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. Walgreen Co. president and chief executive officer Greg Wasson becomes chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores at a pivotal time for the industry. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has elected Greg Wasson, president and chief executive officer of Walgreen Co., as the new NACDS chairman and announced the election of other new officers, a new executive committee member and five new board members. A large percentage of Americans don't know the government-recommended vaccinations for their age and health condition, according to a Walgreen Co. survey. Government and health care decision makers are exhibiting a rising appreciation of the role that community pharmacy services can play in improving the quality and lowering the cost of health care, National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson said at the NACDS Annual Meeting. The Jean Coutu Group has sold more than 20% of its equity stake in Rite Aid Corp. As National Association of Chain Drug Stores chairman Bob Loeffler sees it, the record-breaking participation in this year's NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill shows the effect that proactive member engagement can have. CVS/pharmacy is focused on growing its front-end business as it builds on the strong foundation established in recent years. Chain drug stores have responded well to the changing marketplace over the past year and bolstered their prospects for growth in 2012, industry analysts say.
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