Walmart reportedly in talks to acquire Humana
Walmart is reportedly in talks to acquire health insurer Humana Inc. in a move to keep up with the consolidating health care marketplace and be competitive with Amazon.com.
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Trumps unveils war on opioid abuse
Last month, President Trump unveiled his plan to fight the nationwide opioid crisis. The departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Justice are the two agencies charged with leading the effort and executing the president’s plan.
Albertsons plans digital market
Albertsons Cos. is launching a new digital marketplace for food and wellness products, and the retailer is inviting suppliers of new and niche brands to be a part of it. “At Albertsons Cos.
Genoa hits milestone as 400th store debuts
Behavioral health pharmacy operator Genoa Healthcare has opened its 400th location, in its home state. Last month, Tukwila, Wash.-based Genoa held the grand opening of its newest pharmacy at Comprehensive Life Resources, a nonprofit behavioral health center in Renton.
Rice to head PBM business at CVS Health
Former Eli Lilly and Co. finance chief Derica Rice has been named president of CVS Caremark, the pharmacy benefits management business of CVS Health. He succeeds Jon Roberts, who was promoted last year to the newly created position of chief operating officer of CVS Health.
McKesson takes steps to fight opioid epidemic
As the severity of the American opioid epidemic continues to deepen, government agencies — along with the White House — and private sector companies are joining the fight to stop it. On Thursday, McKesson Corp. announced a series of company initiatives aimed at combatting the crisis.
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
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.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
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.
Walmart enlists payment tool to spur health incentives
Total health care spending in the U.S. climbed to $3.4 trillion in 2016 and is expected to reach $5.5 trillion by 2020, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Evidence-based predictions on health care’s future
The types of medicines being developed, the way technology contributes to health and how the value of health is calculated are all changing dramatically, according to a new report from the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science.
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.
NACDS members have a lot to offer in opioid fight
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores took part in this month’s White House Opioid Summit as it continues to give retail pharmacy’s take on how to combat the opioid abuse epidemic.