AmerisourceBergen, Compliant Pharmacy Alliance ink deal
AmerisourceBergen Corp. and the Compliant Pharmacy Alliance Cooperative (CPA) have detailed a new nine-year distribution pact for prescription drugs and over-the-counter products.
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Higher Tricare co-pay plan draws fire
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) sent a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the House Armed Services Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee urging them to reject calls to increase retail community pharmacist
Balancing drug cost vs. access a challenge
Growth in spending on medicines dipped last year, but that hasn’t eased the challenge of balancing access to drugs and the cost of care in an era of innovative but more expensive treatments, according to the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics.
Walgreens, OptumRx build ‘new pharmacy solution’
Walgreens is partnering with OptumRx to create a new pharmacy benefit to meet consumers’ changing prescription drug needs and help employers, health plans and their members achieve better health outcomes and greater cost savings.
Ritzman aims to elevate expectations for retail Rx
An answer to the commoditization of pharmacy has arrived here. “The Pharmacy of the Future,” highlighting pharmacists’ clinical knowledge and services, has been opened in northeastern Ohio by Ritzman Pharmacy.
CVS doubles down on anti-tobacco effort
CVS Health has pledged to spend $50 million over the next five years on an initiative with the ambitious goal of helping to deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation. The initiative, called “Be the First,” represents a further broadening of CVS’ reach as a health care advocate.
Prescription drug costs keep rising
Inflation in medication costs eased last year due to spending controls and fewer new blockbusters, although there are still numerous cases of sticker shock. Spending on prescription drugs rose 5.
WBA steps up to combat the spread of Zika virus
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) announced last month that it would donate $100,000 to the CDC Foundation toward its Zika virus education and prevention campaigns.
Franchise model for independents launched by Benzer
Benzer Pharmacy recently announced that it is introducing a franchise model that it says will revolutionize independent pharmacies. The retail pharmacy chain is inviting independents to unite under the Benzer brand.
Prescription drug abuse bill gets Senate approval
The Senate has passed the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016 (S. 483), legislation that has the support of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.
Walmart appoints VP, health transformation
Marcus Osborne has been named vice president of health and wellness transformation at Walmart. Osborne, who had served as vice president of health and wellness payer relations, will report to George Riedl, the company’s senior vice president of health and wellness.
McKesson adds Rexall Health to Canadian holdings
McKesson Corp.’s $2.2 billion deal to acquire Rexall Health from Katz Group will strengthen the drug distributor’s position in Canada’s pharmaceutical supply chain. McKesson said the agreement is a natural next step for two companies that have worked together for over 20 years.
Satisfaction among shoppers is on the decline
Two years removed from its all-time high, customer satisfaction with the retail sector — including drug chains — has fallen for a second consecutive year. Fourth quarter data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) show a slide of 2.6% to 74.8 on a 100-point scale.
London Drugs, SDM weigh sale of medical marijuana
London Drugs vice president of pharmacy John Tse said the chain is exploring the idea of selling legal marijuana through its 79 pharmacies in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Anti-drug abuse efforts advance
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is urging the Senate to pass legislation that it says would spur collaboration among health and enforcement authorities for drug abuse solutions “that maintain patients’ legitimate access to medications” while fighting opioid abuse.
Anderson named top trade association CEO
National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson has been selected as the 2016 Trade Association CEO of the Year by an independent panel of association leadership experts.