CVS enables prescription text alerts
CVS/pharmacy has launched Order Ready Text Messaging, which allows customers to get text messages to notify them when their prescription is ready to be picked up.
Retail News
NACDS praises court ruling on Medi-Cal cuts
National Association of Chain Drug Stores is part of a group of health care-related organizations hailing a tentative decision by a federal court to block a 10% reimbursement cut in Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program.
Rite Aid goes social with Valentine’s promotion
Rite Aid Corp. has partnered with American Greetings Corp. and Hershey Co. for "Sweet Escape," a Valentine’s Day promotion on its Facebook and Twitter sites.
Prescription files from 33 Kmarts acquired by Walgreens
Walgreen Co. plans to buy prescription files and inventory from 33 Kmart pharmacies in 16 states. Walgreens said Monday that it will purchase the pharmacy patient files and transfer them to nearby Walgreens pharmacies. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Katz sells two business units to McKesson
Katz Group Canada has signed an agreement to sell Drug Trading Co., its banner pharmacy business, and Medicine Shoppe Canada, its franchise pharmacy business, to McKesson Corp. for about $920 million. As part of the transaction McKesson is entering into other ancillary agreements with Katz Group.
Walgreens names group VP managed market sales
Walgreen Co. today named former Pfizer Inc. executive Robyn Peters as group vice president of managed market sales. She replaces chief client officer Joseph Terrion, who is leaving the company to pursue personal interests.
Shoppers Drug Mart adds essence to exclusive brands
Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. is expanding its roster of exclusive beauty care brands with the rollout of essence, a Germany-based value cosmetics brand. At Shoppers Drug Mart, essence cosmetics will be showcased in an innovative display.
Rite Aid adopts cloud-based workforce management tool
Rite Aid Corp. plans to deploy a cloud-based workforce management system that will be used at all of its nearly 4,700 drug stores. Retail workforce management technology provider WorkPlace Systems Inc.
Shoppers Drug Mart makes donation to Canada’s Blueprint for Pharmacy
Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. is donating $250,000 to support The Blueprint for Pharmacy Implementation Strategy, a long-term initiative to evolve pharmacy practice with the changing health care needs of Canadians.
NCPA: Medicaid draft FULs come up short again
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a fourth round of draft federal upper limits (FULs) for Medicaid generic drug reimbursement, but the proposed levels still fall short for community pharmacies, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association.
MinuteClinic cites surge in pertussis cases
Pointing to a rise in whooping cough cases, MinuteClinic announced that DTap and Tdap vaccinations are available daily at more than 600 walk-in health clinics nationwide.
Rite Aid spotlights consumables for ‘big game’
With Super Bowl Sunday coming up soon, Rite Aid Corp. is launching a new promotion that highlights the chain as a convenient, year-round destination for commonly purchased food and beverage items.
Walgreens CFO, pharmacy chief, ex-CEO join boards
Current Walgreen Co. executives Wade Miquelon and Kermit Crawford and former chief executive officer Jeffrey Rein have joined the boards of health care service providers.
CVS Caremark lands Pennsylvania Rx benefits pact
The Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund (PEBTF) has awarded CVS Caremark Corp. a three-year contract to provide prescription drug benefits to Pennsylvania state employees.
Mobile app compares retail pharmacy drug prices
LowestMed, a provider of discount drug programs, has launched what it calls the industry’s first mobile application that enables consumers to view and compare prescription drug prices at local retail pharmacies on a smartphone.
N.Y. to assess AAC as Rx reimbursement benchmark
As part of an effort to revamp its Medicaid program, the state of New York this year plans to evaluate average acquisition cost (AAC) as a benchmark for pharmacy reimbursement.