Premiums for health plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act will rise sharply next year, and insurer defections in some states will leave consumers with substantially fewer coverage options, the federal government reported.
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) and Rite Aid Corp. have extended the time frame for completing their planned $17.2 billion merger. The companies have pushed back the end date for the deal by three months to January 27, and they expect the transaction to close early next year.
Paul Urick has been promoted to president of Diplomat Pharmacy Inc. Urick, who had been senior vice president of industry relations, pharmaceutical account management and payor strategy, succeeds Gary Kadlec, who will retire on December 31.
Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) has formally applied to dispense medical marijuana. The chain plans only to distribute the drug with a prescription, not produce it.
The Zika virus is more prevalent than Florida health officials have reported, and pregnant women should consider postponing travel to Miami-Dade County, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said last month.
CVS Pay, an end-to-end mobile payment program at CVS Pharmacy, has been rolled out nationwide. CVS Pay is now part of the CVS Pharmacy mobile app, and it integrates payment, prescription pickup and the ExtraCare loyalty program into one scan at checkout.
Extending its omnichannel strategy, Walgreens has launched a ship-to-store option for orders made online or via its mobile app.
Loblaw Cos./Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM), Canada’s largest food and drug retailer, has rejoined the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada.
The Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation (CPPA) announced that it has accredited Thrifty White Specialty Pharmacy. Fargo, N.D.-based Thrifty White Pharmacy offers specialty patients full pharmacy support services, which it has expanded to serve all 50 states.
Initiatives from CVS Health and Walgreens to collect unused medications have produced dramatic results, the companies announced. They reported the results ahead of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day late last month.
In chain drug retailing, the most disappointing product category in 2016 has been beauty care. Indeed, the problem with the beauty care category in chain drug stores is, quite simply, the chain drug store’s inability to generate any significant interest in the category.
The United Nations Foundation last month recognized five individuals and organizations whose support has helped the UN address a range of serious issues around the globe.
