Fred’s agrees to buy 865 Rite Aid stores
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) and Rite Aid Corp. have entered into an agreement to sell 865 Rite Aid stores and certain assets related to store operations to Fred’s Inc. for $950 million.
Retail News
Pharmacy groups speak up with change coming in D.C.
Sensing change in the air, a group of pharmacy associations have called on the incoming Trump administration and congressional leaders to recognize the role that pharmacies play in the nation’s health care system.
H.D. Smith launches VentureRx
H.D. Smith has rolled out VentureRx, a program to aid in the launch, sale or expansion of a pharmacy business.
Merlo: Integrated care sets CVS Health apart
CVS Health’s integrated pharmacy care model makes it a “partner of choice” in the health care arena, president and chief executive officer Larry Merlo said at the company’s annual Analyst Day event in Manhattan.
NACDS hails rule relaxing access to pharmacy rewards
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is giving pharmacies more flexibility to extend their reward and loyalty programs to beneficiaries in government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, according to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.
CVS to build distribution center in Kansas City
CVS Health plans to build a new distribution center in Kansas City, Mo., to serve CVS Pharmacy locations in the region.
McKesson cleared to acquire Rexall
McKesson Corp. has been given the green light from the Competition Bureau of Canada to finalize its $2.2 billion acquisition of drug chain Rexall Health.
Walgreens shifts clinics in South Florida to UHealth
In its latest retail clinic partnership, Walgreens is transitioning 17 Healthcare Clinics in South Florida to the University of Miami Health System (UHealth).
NCPA extends digital health pact with RxWiki
The National Community Pharmacists Association has entered a five-year agreement with digital health provider RxWiki Inc. NCPA said Tuesday that the pact extends an existing agreement with RxWiki and secures the association members’ benefits through 2021.
CVS mobilizes integrated model for chronic care
Early next year, CVS Health plans to launch a diabetes care program for its pharmacy benefit management (PBM) clients that provides clinical services and cost management solutions.
NACDS adds to federal government affairs team
William Tighe has been named vice president of federal government affairs and Amber Manko as director of federal government affairs at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. NACDS said Tighe joined the association on Dec. 12, while Manko had started in her post on Nov. 28.
Walgreens study shows health tracking’s value
Automated health tracking can improve long-term health engagement, according to findings from a study by Walgreens and the Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI).
Walgreens eyes more efficient health care
In a country where health care is rife with wasted time and money, Walgreens is committed to making pharmacy more efficient. One measure of the practice’s current inefficiency, says Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.
Trump chooses harsh critic of ACA to head HHS
The choices of Tom Price and Seema Verma for top health positions under Donald Trump have reaffirmed the president-elect’s commitment to toppling the Affordable Care Act.
NACDS Regional Conference targets industry’s ‘grassroots’
The upcoming NACDS Regional Chain Conference will be a fertile source of ideas for retail pharmacy, says Kristin Williams, senior vice president and chief health officer at Hy-Vee Inc.
Fred’s posts 3Q loss, plans to close 40 stores
In reporting a net loss for its fiscal 2016 third quarter, Fred’s Inc. said it plans to shut 40 underperforming stores in the first half of next year. Fred’s also announced at the start of its earnings call Thursday that it wouldn’t take any questions from analysts following its quarterly report —