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Issue 03-19-2018

Albertsons-Rite Aid merger deal seen as a ‘win-win’

Albertsons-Rite Aid merger deal seen as a ‘win-win’

The merger of Albertsons Cos. and Rite Aid Corp. will create a “truly differentiated” player in the food, health and wellness space, John Standley, chairman and chief executive officer of Rite Aid, said when the deal was announced late last month.

Riedl elects to step down at Walmart

George Riedl, senior vice president at Walmart and president of the Walmart Health and Wellness division, has left the ­company. A Walmart spokeswoman said that Riedl, a key pharmacy executive at the retail giant, departed effective March 16. The company didn’t say if a successor had been named.

Big move by Cigna accelerates health care realignment

Another blockbuster merger is adding momentum to the consolidation wave sweeping through the health care sector, and again crossing industry segments. Health insurer Cigna Corp. plans to acquire pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts in a $67 billion cash and stock deal.

Time for drug chains to reclaim beauty category

Time for drug chains to reclaim beauty category

It is a pivotal juncture for the beauty care category in the drug channel. Retailers and brands need to devise a game plan to wrest the business away from prestige power players. Sales in cosmetics, skin care and grooming are firing on all cylinders — but sadly, not in the mass beauty

Amazon targets Medicaid population

Amazon targets Medicaid population

Amazon.com plans to offer discounts on its Amazon Prime service to Medicaid recipients. Low-income individuals who are eligible for the government health insurance program will be able to sign up for Prime for $5.99 a month, a $7 discount from its standard monthly cost of $12.99.

Kehoe to succeed Fairweather as CFO at WBA

Kehoe to succeed Fairweather as CFO at WBA

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) recently announced the appointment of James Kehoe as the company’s executive vice president and global chief financial officer, effective June 1. Kehoe will succeed George Fairweather, who has served as WBA’s global CFO since February 2015.

SDM inks medical marijuana supply pact

Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) has expanded its access to medical marijuana products by entering into a supply agreement with Aurora Cannabis Inc. Aurora said that under the pact it will supply SDM with Aurora-branded medical cannabis products.

CVS is taking aim at the high cost of Rxs

CVS Health chief policy and external affairs officer Tom Moriarty spoke to attendees at the AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans) National Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., earlier this month about ways the company is addressing the high cost of prescription drugs for payers and consumers.

Donald joins Albertsons as president, COO

Albertsons Cos. has tapped retail veteran Jim Donald, former president and chief executive officer of Starbucks Corp., to serve as its new president and chief operating officer.

NACDS RxImpact Day part of ongoing dialogue

NACDS RxImpact Day part of ongoing dialogue

for the policy makers and pharmacy advocates who participated, the pharmacy profession as a whole and, ultimately, patients across the country — came into sharp focus during the daylong series of meetings on Capitol Hill that is