Kroger to acquire specialty pharmacy operator
Kroger Co. plans to acquire Axium Pharmacy Holdings Inc., a leading specialty pharmacy. Financial terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed.
Retail News
Congress gets NCPA’s input on compounding
The National Community Pharmacists Association has provided comment and research on compounding pharmacy services to two congressional committees holding hearings on the meningitis outbreak at the New England Compounding Center (NECC).
Walmart adopts Rx package that promotes adherence
Walmart pharmacies have enlisted a new, eco-friendly pharmaceutical package that also helps patients comply with their medication regimens.
County Rx discount card saves residents $500 million
Residents in counties that participate in the National Association of Counties (NACo) Prescription Discount Card Program have saved over $500 million on their medications since the initiative’s launch in 2004, according to data from NACo and CVS Caremark.
CVS launches mobile photo printing service in stores
A new service at CVS/pharmacy enables customers to upload digital images from a mobile device to Kodak stations in its stores to create a wide range of photo products.
Rite Aid steps up Sandy relief, including in-store donations
Through its corporate nonprofit foundation, Rite Aid is donating another $100,000 to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts and is slated to launch a national in-store fundraising program.
Vons, Smith’s pharmacies in Las Vegas aid in diabetes management
Pharmacies of Kroger Co.’s Smith’s and Safeway Inc.’s Vons supermarket chains are launching UnitedHealthcare’s Diabetes Control Program in Las Vegas and surrounding communities in Clark County, Nev.
Loblaw tabbed as preferred pharmacy provider
Loblaw Cos. has been named the preferred pharmacy service provider for the Towers Watson Canadian Rx Coalition, a network of private-sector drug plan sponsors.
NCPA survey spotlights value of compounding services
With compounded medications under scrutiny after the meningitis outbreak in Massachusetts, a survey by the National Community Pharmacists Association underscores the value of compounding services to community pharmacies and their patients.
Shoppers Drug Mart sees 3Q sales climb
Front-end business and script count growth helped boost sales at Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. in the third quarter. Canada’s largest drug chain said Tuesday that for the 16-week quarter ended Oct. 6, revenue rose 3.2% year over year to nearly $3.21 billion (Canadian), with same-store sales up 2.3%.
Webinars explain e-prescribing of controlled substances
A coalition of southeastern Michigan-based employers and health insurers is offering pharmacists and doctors free webinars on electronic prescribing of controlled substances.
Thrifty White enlists Rx pouch dispensing system
Thrifty White Pharmacy has been able to hone its pharmacy workflow and develop innovative medication programs for patients with the help of an automated image verification and collation system from TCGRx.
Drug chains give Hurricane Sandy recovery update
The nation’s largest drug chains — Walgreen Co., CVS Caremark Corp. and Rite Aid Corp. — report that they have reopened nearly all the stores impacted by Hurricane Sandy. And as drug store operations begin to return to normal, the three chains continue to do what they can to aid the recovery
NACDS-PAC tallies 2012 election performance
If the results of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores polication action committee is any indication, pharmacy advocates’ efforts to engage with candidates leading up to the 2012 elections have paid off.
Ontario pharmacists question OxyContin generic
The Ontario Pharmacists’ Association (OPA) has come out in support the provincial government’s call for Health Canada to defer the approval of generic OxyContin, a narcotic painkiller.
CVS stores roll out Nail HQ kiosks
CVS/pharmacy has begun deploying special nail care kiosks, called Nail HQ, in more than 2,000 stores.