Lawmakers to CMS: Don’t publish draft FUL lists
A group of 40 congressmen have called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to stop publishing draft lists of federal upper limits (FULs) used for reimbursing pharmacies under Medicaid.
Retail News
American Diabetes Association names Walgreens as strategic partner
Walgreen Co. has become a national strategic partner of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to collaborate with the organization on its Stop Diabetes effort.
CVS Caremark honored for logistics program
CVS Caremark Corp. has been awarded the 2011 Supply Chain Distinction Award North America in the Logistics Best Practice Category. CVS said Thursday that the awards, presented at the annual Supply Chain Logistics Summit in Dallas, held by media firm WTG Ltd.
NACDS clarifies ‘misleading’ statements by PBM execs
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores said the chief executive officers of Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions made "misleading statements" in testimony at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the two pharmacy benefit managers’ merger deal.
Medicine Shoppe, Medicap franchisees seek arbitration
About 60 Medicine Shoppe and Medicap pharmacy owners nationwide have filed an arbitration claim against their parent franchise companies, which are subsidiaries of Cardinal Health Inc., for allegedly failing to support the franchise systems.
Hy-Vee CEO to retire, tabs COO as successor
Ric Jurgens, chairman and chief executive officer of Hy-Vee Inc., plans to retire from the company in the middle of next year. Jurgens told shareholders at the food and drug retailer’s annual meeting Wednesday that he will retire on June 1. He also said that he will ask Hy-Vee’s board,
Rite Aid sees results improve in 3Q
Rite Aid Corp. reported upticks in revenue and same-store sales for its fiscal 2012 third quarter and narrowed its net loss in the period, beating Wall Street analyst estimates. Rite Aid said Thursday that for the 13-week third quarter ended Nov. 26, revenue totaled $6.3 billion, up 1.8% from $6.
Drug stores vs. PBMs: Anti-mail bill OK’d in N.Y.
Legislation approved this week in New York highlights the escalating tug of war between retail pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). New York Gov.
Walgreens answers call for pertussis, flu vaccines
Walgreen Co. is leveraging the accessibility of its drug stores to help provide pertussis and flu vaccinations to people in its home state. Walgreens said late Tuesday that has expanded availability of immunizations for whooping cough to all of its more than 580 pharmacies in Illinois.
Energy use specialist enlisted by Rite Aid
Rite Aid Corp. has tapped Ecova, an energy and sustainability solution provider, to to provide utility expense and energy management services. Ecova said Tuesday that it will assist Rite Aid in monitoring, understanding and reducing energy use at its approximately 4,700 drug stores nationwide.
Rite Aid plans to ramp up wellness+ program
Next year, Rite Aid Corp. aims to expand its wellness+ customer loyalty program by delivering new ways to save and more shopper rewards. Rite Aid said Tuesday that on Jan. 1, it will launch Load2Card, a coupon management program that will enable wellness+ members to save, manage and redeem Rite Aid
Pharmacists among most-trusted professionals, Gallup finds
When it comes to trust, Americans continue to rate pharmacists near the top among professions, according to Gallup’s latest Honesty and Ethics survey. Pharmacists came in second only to nurses and ahead of physicians in the annual poll, results of which were released Monday by Gallup.
Walgreens’ Watts moves to Weight Watchers
Colin Watts, chief innovation officer at Walgreen Co., has left the drug chain to join Weight Watchers International Inc.
Congressmen: Merged PBM might be too big
More congressmen have called on the Federal Trade Commission to take extra care in its review of the merger deal between pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts Inc. and Medco Health Solutions Inc. Reps.
London Drugs photo site integrates social media
London Drugs has launched a new Photolab website that enables customers to log into and access images from Facebook, Flickr, Google+ and Picasa social media accounts and create a variety of photo products.
Walgreens to PBM: Let’s make a Tricare deal
Walgreen Co. said more than 250,000 beneficiaries in the military’s Tricare health plan have petitioned Express Scripts Inc. to keep the drug chain in its pharmacy provider network.