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Drug chains post modest sales gains during holidays

Drug chains were not immune to the shift in holiday shopping away from brick-and-mortar retailing, as sales growth barely exceeded 4%. That was down from last season’s 4.4% advance in holiday retail sales, and well off the 5.4% gain of five years ago. Same-store sales were up 1.

Boehner to keynote NACDS Annual Meeting

John Boehner, the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, will deliver the keynote address at the 2016 NACDS Annual Meeting. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores said that Boehner (R.

HHS’ Burwell asks pharmacies to help spur ACA enrollment

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell stopped at an H-E-B grocery store here, where she drew attention to the December 15 enrollment deadline for consumers who wanted their health insurance plans to become active on ­January 1.

Pharmacists rank high on trust

Although pharmacists scored high, nurses topped Gallup’s Honesty and Ethics of Professions rankings for 2015, a feat that they have accomplished every year but one since they were added to the list in 1999.

Mobile payment system introduced by Walmart

Walmart knows customers want to save not just money but also time. To meet that customer need, the retailer has introduced Walmart Pay — “a fast, easy and secure way for customers to pay with their smartphones in Walmart stores.

Lawmakers see pharmacists as pillar of MTM

A bipartisan group of congressional representatives is urging that retail pharmacists play a part in a new initiative designed to improve the use of medication therapy management in ­Medicare.

Diplomat fully reaccredited by URAC for specialty Rx

Diplomat Pharmacy Inc. has been awarded full Specialty Pharmacy reaccreditation by URAC, a Washington, D.C.-based health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. Diplomat has been fully accredited for specialty pharmacy since 2012.

Walmart taps Riedl to run health, wellness

Walmart taps Riedl to run health, wellness

Former longtime Walgreens executive George Riedl has been named president of health and wellness at Walmart. He succeeds Labeed Diab, who left Walmart to join Brookdale Senior Living Inc. as chief operating officer. Riedl most recently was president of Advanced Marketing & Sales Inc.

Affordable Care Act encounters new headwinds

Affordable Care Act encounters new headwinds

UnitedHealth Group Inc. may pull out of Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges in 2017 after losing what it said were hundreds of millions of dollars on policies sold under the law.

Pfizer-Allergan deal is expected to stand

Pfizer-Allergan deal is expected to stand

Despite widespread criticism over the issue of tax inversions, legal experts say that current regulatory restrictions in the United States are unlikely to block the $160 billion merger deal announced by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and Ireland-based drug manufacturer Allergan Inc.

Generics resonate with consumers

Americans prefer generic drugs to brands for both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, according to a new Harris Poll. Among those who purchase prescription drugs for themselves, nearly seven in 10 (69%) say, given a choice, they would opt for generics more often.

Chawla exits Walgreens to become Kohl’s COO

Sona Chawla has left Walgreens to join Kohl’s Corp. as chief operating officer, a new position. She reports to chairman, president and chief executive officer Kevin Mansell. Chawla, who had been president of digital and chief marketing officer at Walgreens, joined Kohl’s at the end of last month.

AmerisourceBergen gives Collis bigger role

AmerisourceBergen Corp. announced last month that Steve Collis, the company’s chief executive officer, will succeed company chairman Richard Gozon next year. The company has also adopted measures to make it easier for certain shareholders to nominate directors to the board.

Shoppers Drug Mart launches more beautyBOUTIQUEs

Shoppers Drug Mart launches more beautyBOUTIQUEs

Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) has debuted its sixth and seventh enhanced beautyBOUTIQUE store-within-a-stores in Ottawa and Montreal. The Ottawa boutique was unveiled at a store in the Rideau Centre. The Montreal boutique, named galerieBEAUTÉ, was unveiled in a Pharmaprix unit on Rue Sainte-Catherine.