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Opinion

As health care battle persists, pharmacy moves ahead

As health care battle persists, pharmacy moves ahead

    Clearly, health care reform will remain a contentious issue during the current presidential election cycle and beyond. The House of Representatives started the new year by voting to gut the Affordable Care Act.

Changes loom as industry starts new year

Changes loom as industry starts new year

The new year has begun inauspiciously for chain drug retailing, an industry that is still trying to assess the results of the just completed Christmas selling season. By all accounts, December was a month of no great accomplishments, even if it was not the disaster some observers predicted.

Mobile devices back drive for health, wellness

Mobile devices back drive for health, wellness

The mobile experience, including both websites and apps, can play a prominent role for those tracking their fitness and wellness, managing multiple medications, and/or managing an illness or chronic condition. According to Pew Research Center, nearly two-thirds of Americans own a smartphone.

Hopes of chain drug industry rest with new leaders

Hopes of chain drug industry rest with new leaders

Christmas is over, yesterday’s news. And the mass retailing community is scampering to assess its impact on sales, earnings and the future. For chain drug retailers, this holiday selling season, like so many before it, was acceptable, if hardly record-setting.

MTM runs into roadblocks

MTM runs into roadblocks

It is said that patience is a virtue. With respect to medication therapy management (MTM) by chain pharmacists, patience has been more a necessity than a virtue. Among and between health care providers, including pharmacists, there have been MTM pilot projects and some test collaborations.

Questions abound as ’15 draws to a close

Questions abound as ’15 draws to a close

and very little was as it had been a year ago. Many of the same familiar faces were on hand, and several of the same retail companies attended. But the yearlong series of events that have

Health care turmoil creates opportunity for Rx

Health care turmoil creates opportunity for Rx

More than five years after enactment of the Affordable Care Act, a measure designed to extend coverage to the uninsured and control expenditures, the turmoil in the U.S. health care system shows no signs of abating.

It’s time for drug chains to get creative

It’s time for drug chains to get creative

again. But the current promotion bears little resemblance to the event that, apparently eons ago, ushered in the Christmas selling season by offering shoppers, for a limited time on the day following Thanksgiving, holiday specials that lured customers into all manner of stores.

Walgreens-Rite Aid deal changes game

Walgreens-Rite Aid deal changes game

The spectacular is becoming so commonplace that even the most astonishing events in chain drug retailing are assuming a ho-hum characteristic. Nothing new here, even if Walgreens has announced its intention to acquire Rite Aid.

Health care partnerships are wave of the future

Health care partnerships are wave of the future

The move toward closer cooperation among providers is one of the more intriguing developments in health care, one that promises to improve patient outcomes and limit expenditures in a sector that accounts for almost 20% of the nation’s gross domestic product.