NCPA appoints senior government affairs executive
Washington veteran Steve Pfister has been named senior vice president of government affairs for the National Community Pharmacists Association.
Retail News
Insurer enlists Walgreens for infusion services
Walgreens Infusion Services has been selected by health benefits provider Regence to serve its specialty infusion patients in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
NCPDP’s SCRIPT now supports electronic prior authorization
The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) announced the approval and availability of electronic prior authorization (ePA) transactions for its SCRIPT standard for electronic prescribing.
NACDS opens registration for 2014 Annual Meeting
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has begun registration for the 2014 NACDS Annual Meeting. NACDS said Friday that online registration for the event, to be held April 26 to 29, 2014, in Scottsdale, Ariz., is available on the association’s website at annual.NACDS.org.
Pharmaca rolls out Natural Beauty Bar to more stores
Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy Inc. has brought its Natural Beauty Bar services, launched a year ago, to another five locations. Pharmaca said Thursday that it now offers the Natural Beauty Bar in its Brentwood, Menlo Park, Novato and Oakland, Calif., stores and in its Portland, Ore., store.
Jean Coutu Group no longer a Rite Aid stakeholder
The Jean Coutu Group has sold its remaining shares of Rite Aid Corp., divesting its equity stake in the U.S. drug chain. Jean Coutu Group said that on Thursday it completed the sale of 65,401,162 shares of Rite Aid common stock for $192.2 million (U.S.), which will result in a $94.1 million
Distribution center kicks off CVS effort to hire veterans
CVS Caremark Corp. is launching its effort to hire military veterans and spouses with an event at the company’s Vero Beach, Fla., distribution center.
Sales at Shoppers Drug Mart climb in 2Q
Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. saw revenue and same-store sales rise in the second quarter of 2013, while earnings topped analysts’ forecast by a penny. Canada’s largest drug chain reported the positive results just days after announcing a blockbuster deal to be acquired by Loblaw Cos. for $12.
Drug chains nix Rolling Stone magazine picturing Boston Marathon bomber
CVS Caremark Corp., Walgreen Co. and Rite Aid Corp. have indicated they won’t sell an issue of Rolling Stone magazine that pictures accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on its cover.
Cardinal, NACDS seek study on adherence, hospital readmissions
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation has made a request for proposals to research the impact of integrating pharmacist-provided medication management services into the hospital discharge process.
Congress urged to keep oversight of compounding to state pharmacy boards
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association provided insight to a congressional committee examining ways to tighten regulation of pharmacy compounding.
AstraZeneca executive joins Walgreens
Walgreen Co. has named former AstraZeneca vice president Mark Lelinski as its new corporate vice president for market access.
NACDS, NCPA cite Medicaid reimbursement flaws
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association have expressed concerns about "fair and accurate" Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published draft, three-month rolling average federal upper limit
Walgreens expands reach of photo pickup
Walgreens drug stores nationwide can now receive and print photo orders through the LifePics Network.
MinuteClinic serves up weight-loss program
MinuteClinic has introduced the Weight Loss Program at MinuteClinic, a personalized program designed to help people lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle The CVS Caremark retail health clinic subsidiary said Monday that the program leverages the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) di
Loblaws to acquire Shoppers Drug Mart
Loblaw Cos. is acquiring Shoppers Drug Mart for $12.4 billion (Canadian) in a cash and stock deal. Under the agreement announced Monday, Shoppers Drug Mart will retain its name and brand and operate as a separate division of Loblaws.