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Research highlights need to improve Rx adherence

An article that appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine earlier this month is being hailed by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores for helping to drive home the organization’s message that community pharmacists play a key role in helping reduce long-term health care costs.

Ontario plans to slash Rx payments for generics

After nine months of discussions with the pharmacy community about how to reduce the government’s costs, Ontario’s health ministry has decided that the best way to accomplish those savings is to slash the reimbursement rate paid to pharmacies when they dispense generic drugs.

Canadian drug chains react swiftly to reimbursement cuts

While Canada’s largest drug chains have traditionally been reluctant to take on provincial governments publicly, their reaction to Ontario’s plan to reduce the pharmacy reimbursement rate on prescriptions filled with generic drugs by 50% was quick and to the point.

Obama names CMS chief

After nearly four years without a permanent administrator, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is getting a new leader. President Obama has nominated Donald Berwick, a pediatrician known for his work to improve patient care, as the next CMS administrator.

Restrictions on O-T-Cs opposed

Pseudo­ephedrine products should stay over the counter, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) have told Congress.

Kinney Drugs realigns merchandising

Kinney Drugs has restructured its merchandising department, promoting Cheri Taylor to division manger of health and beauty care and making Mike Hatch, who had previously overseen the 94-store chain’s health and beauty efforts, division manager of general merchandise.

Tax break ended by health care reform

Walgreen Co. is among the corporations that will take an accounting charge because of health care reform’s reduction of tax deductions for retiree drug coverage. Walgreens said it anticipates a charge of some $40 million to deferred taxes in the third quarter of fiscal 2010.

Senate drug abuse bill endorsed by NACDS

In a letter to Senate leaders, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores voiced its support of legislation that would take a community-level approach to stopping drug abuse, including abuse of prescription and nonprescription medication and methamphetamine.