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Issue 11-24-2014

Affordable Care Act moves back into spotlight

Drug chains are doing their part to help people with the Affordable Care Act’s second open enrollment, even as the Supreme Court hears a new challenge that could undermine the law. The court agreed this month to rule on claims that the government should not be able to subsidize health plans for

Pharmacy charts course in wake of midterm elections

As the dust settles around the results of the midterm congressional elections, the legislative outlook that emerges from analyzing the results is one that appears favorable to pharmacy even as several key supporters of the industry were defeated in their bids for reelection.

Rite Aid ups the ante in health care

A flurry of moves this month by Rite Aid Corp. further its growth as a retail health care company. First, Rite Aid unveiled plans to pilot walk-in HealthSpot telehealth stations in the greater Akron/Canton, Cleveland and Dayton/Springfield markets in Ohio.

Walgreens makes big bond offer

Moving another step closer to completing its merger with Alliance Boots GmbH, Walgreen Co. has announced bond offerings in the United States and Europe totaling more than $10 billion. This month, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.

Consumers bullish as holidays near

With the nation’s economy growing at a solid pace and gasoline prices declining, there is growing sentiment among economists that consumer spending is going to pick up momentum.

NACDS appoints Rx care manager

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has hired Sara Rubin as manager of pharmacy care. In this position, Rubin will be responsible for supporting the development and implementation of NACDS pharmacy care initiatives. She reports to Alex Adams, vice president of pharmacy programs.

Martin retires from Walmart

Yale Martin, senior category director of O-T-C merchandising at Walmart, has retired after 18 years with the company. In that role, Martin led a team of buyers responsible for merchandising over-the-counter products for Walmart’s 5,000 stores in the United States.

Luu joins Diplomat executive team

Martino Luu has been appointed vice president of innovation and process improvement at Diplomat ­Pharmacy Inc. Luu will work with Diplomat’s business units to carry out evaluations of current processes as well as make recommendations for improvements designed to sharpen efficiency.

Drug chains play to their strengths

As the Christmas selling season begins, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that mass retailers are concerned about business. Not that they have nothing to offer their customers; rather, they have little to offer that’s exciting, new, different, compelling, or even mildly ­interesting.

Time is right for pharmacy to assert itself

The Republican wave that swept across the country in this month’s midterm elections transformed the political landscape and raised hopes, however fragile, that the gridlock that has come to characterize Washington in recent years might be alleviated, if not completely overcome.