Pharmacies boost controlled substance e-scripts
Last year, retail pharmacies greatly accelerated implementation of technology for electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS). Eighty-two percent of U.S.
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Dollar General set to ramp up expansion
Over the next two years, Dollar General Corp. plans to open nearly 2,000 new stores. The deep discount chain said late Wednesday that about 900 new stores and 875 relocations/remodels are slated for the current 2016 fiscal year.
New chairman to take the reins at Fred’s
The same day that Fred’s Inc. reported fiscal 2015 results, the pharmacy and discount store retailer named a new chairman. Fred’s said Wednesday that Michael Hayes, 74, is slated to step down as chairman of the board of directors on April 15, to be succeeded by director Thomas Tashjian, 61.
Valeant starts search to replace CEO Pearson
J. Michael Pearson is slated to step down as chief executive officer of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., which has begun a search for a new CEO.
WBA increases its stake in AmerisourceBergen
As part of a long-term partnership announced three years ago, Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) is enlarging its equity stake in AmerisourceBergen. WBA said Friday that it has exercised warrants to buy more than 22,696,912 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock for about $1.17 billion.
Walgreens, OptumRx plan integrated Rx offering
Walgreens and pharmacy benefit manager OptumRx are collaborating on an an integrated pharmacy care solution that blends attributes of in-store and mail-order prescription drug services.
Pharmacy delivers message at NACDS RxImpact Day
Nearly 400 pharmacy advocates from 43 states converged on Capitol Hill for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ annual RxImpact Day grassroots lobbying drive.
First MinuteClinics debut in Target stores
CVS Health has opened its first MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics inside Target stores in the Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., markets.
Ahold, Delhaize merger approved by shareholders
Shareholders of Koninklijke Ahold N.V. and Delhaize Group have voted to approve the proposed merger of the two retailers The global supermarket operators said Monday that the deal, pending regulatory approval, is expected to close later this year.
CVS Health ups the ante in smoking prevention
Building on the removal of tobacco products from all of its drug stores, CVS Health has launched a major effort to stop people from smoking before they start.
Prescription drugs fuel rise in health spending
U.S. spending on prescription drugs is projected to continue climbing faster than overall health care expenditures, according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In 2015, U.S. prescription drug spending totaled $457 billion, up 7.
Walgreens teams up with CDC to fight Zika virus
Walgreens is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help prevent the spread of the Zika virus in Puerto Rico.
Ritzman ‘pharmacy of the future’ makes debut
Ritzman Pharmacy is holding the grand opening of its “pharmacy of the future” location in the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) Education and Wellness Center.
Rite Aid comp-store sales decline in February
Comparable-store sales continued to edge down at Rite Aid Corp. in February, but the drug chain reported sales gains for its 2016 fiscal year. Rite Aid said Thursday that for the five weeks ended Feb. 27, same-store sales in its retail pharmacy segment dipped 0.8% year over year.
McKesson to acquire Rexall for $2.2 billion
McKesson Corp. plans to acquire Canadian drug store operator Rexall Health from Katz Group for $2.2 billion ($3 billion Canadian).
NACDS backs Senate prescription drug abuse bill
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has endorsed legislation that would promote the collaboration of health and enforcement authorities in fighting prescription drug abuse while upholding patients’ access to medications.