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Walgreens plays host to the first lady

First lady Michelle Obama toured a Walgreen Co. store on Chicago’s South Side to get an up-close look at the drug chain’s efforts to provide better food options and accessible health care to underserved communities and to fight the childhood obesity epidemic.

PDP launched by Rite Aid, EnvisionRx Plus

Rite Aid Corp. is co-branding a value-focused Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) with EnvisionRx Plus. The Rite Aid EnvisionRx Plus plan offers beneficiaries no deductible and zero co-pays on more than 500 generic medications — even during the coverage gap, or so-called donut hole.

IOM: Costs can’t be ignored in health reform

The federal government should consider cost in deciding which health benefits must be provided by insurance plans under President Barack Obama’s health care reform law, the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine (IOM) says.

Less access to diabetes testing supplies a danger

The “super committee” seeking ways to cut the federal deficit should maintain Medicare recipients’ access to diabetes testing supplies at retail pharmacies, says National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson.

SDM picks McKesson Canada exec to be next CEO

After an international search that lasted seven months, Shoppers Drug Mart’s board announced that the company’s new president and chief executive officer will be a Canadian and from the pharmaceutical industry, though not himself a pharmacist. Domenic Pilla is to take office November 1.

HHS secretary visits Walgreens

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius drove home the point about the importance of getting a flu vaccination this season by receiving her annual shot at Walgreen Co.’s health and daily living pilot store in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood earlier this month.

Chains join insurers for new Medicare PDPs

Walgreen Co., CVS Caremark Corp. and Walmart are partnering with insurance companies on Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs). Walgreens and Walmart are partnering with Coventry Health Care Inc., while CVS has teamed with Aetna. Walmart also again has a plan with ­Humana.