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Opinion

CVS recognized as retail health innovator

CVS recognized as retail health innovator

Fast Company, one of the more appealing and relevant business publications to have come along in recent years, recently compiled a list of the world’s 50 most innovative companies. Several familiar names were included, perhaps most notably to retail students, CVS Health.

Where would we be with no generics?

Where would we be with no generics?

The numbers are in for medication spending in the U.S. for the year 2015. And the story headline could read: Thank You, Generic Medication Industry. Another headline for the same story could read: Alarming U.S. Medication Cost Increase of 12% for 2015. Both headlines would be defensibly accurate.

CDMA still invaluable to small retailers

CDMA still invaluable to small retailers

This year, Chain Drug Marketing Association (CDMA) marks its 90th anniversary. To translate, the organization was begun in 1926. The date was three years prior to the Great Depression and 13 years before the outbreak of World War II.

AMP issue illustrates the pressure on Rx

AMP issue illustrates the pressure on Rx

After years of political and legal wrangling, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its final rule on Covered Outpatient Drugs, which governs reimbursement to retail pharmacies for generic medications dispensed under Medicaid.

Data-driven insights can fuel CPG sales gains

Data-driven insights can fuel CPG sales gains

Challenging conditions notwithstanding, advanced data science provides cause for optimism this year for consumer packaged goods marketers. That is the message of IRI’s latest Times & Trends report, “Taking Stock of CPG Past and Future: Gear Up Now for a Year of Growth.

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.