Budget woes threaten Medicaid Rx in Wash. state
A budget crunch in Washington state could have dire consequences for recipients of Medicaid pharmacy benefits.
Retail News
Walgreens begins new fiscal year with profit surge
A strong operational performance fueled a nearly 19% gain in earnings in the fiscal 2011 first quarter at Walgreen Co., exceeding analysts’ per-share profit forecast by 8 cents. Same-store sales in the quarter, however, edged up less than 1% year over year, despite a 6% increase in total revenue.
CVS’ MinuteClinic aims to bolster health literacy
Through an agreement with the National Patient Safety Foundation, MinuteClinic said it will become the nation’s first retail health clinic provider to implement the Ask Me 3 health literacy program. Plans call for MinuteClinic, a subsidiary of CVS Caremark Corp.
GAO: Reform law lifts Medicaid Rx reimbursement
A new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that health care reform has made Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement levels more palatable for retail pharmacies.
Walgreens, HHS to provide free flu shots to uninsured
Walgreen Co. has partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to offer $10 million of free flu shots in 15 markets nationwide to people who lack health insurance or have insufficient health coverage.
CVS mulls options amid dispute over Mullany hiring
It appears increasingly unlikely that former Walmart executive Hank Mullany will join CVS/pharmacy. In the wake of a decision by a Delaware judge to prevent, at least temporarily, Mullany from becoming president of the drug chain, sources close to parent company CVS Caremark Corp.
MinuteClinic allies with Nevada hospital system
MinuteClinic has affiliated with St. Rose Dominican Hospitals in southern Nevada in a clinical alliance to enhance the health care services in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The CVS Caremark Corp.
NACDS Foundation to make biggest-ever grant to Rx residencies
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation plans to contribute $1.5 million in grants to expand the availability of community pharmacy residency programs (CPRPs) for pharmacy graduates, which it said is the single-largest grant ever dedicated to community pharmacy residencies.
Cardinal Health tool kit on Rx abuse targets teens
The Cardinal Health Foundation and the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy have teamed up to launch the new GenerationRx Youth Toolkit, aimed at helping prevent prescription drug abuse by teens.
Rite Aid trims loss in third quarter
Despite declined revenue, Rite Aid Corp. narrowed its loss for its fiscal 2011 third quarter and came in ahead of Wall Street’s forecast. The drug store chain said Thursday that for the 13-week third quarter ended Nov. 27, sales fell 2.4% to $6.2 billion from $6.4 billion a year earlier. The
Reports: Walmart gets injunction to halt CVS hiring
Walmart has been granted a preliminary injunction to block former executive Hank Mullany from being hired as the pharmacy chief at CVS Caremark Corp., according to published reports.
1 in 6 Americans bought prescription drugs online without Rx
An estimated 36 million Americans, or one in six people, have purchased prescription drugs online without a doctor’s prescription, according to research presented by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and funded by the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP). The Partnership at Drugfree.
NACDS, NCPA drop Medicaid AMP lawsuit
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association are dropping their 2007 lawsuit that has blocked the implementation of the so-called "AMP rule" by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
CVS unveils Facebook photo app
CVS/pharmacy has launched CVS Express Photo App, an online application that enables users of the social media site Facebook to order photo prints directly from their Facebook albums and pick them up in about an hour from a CVS store. "Facebook has become a popular and easy way to share photos online
RediClinic to double health clinic count in H.E.B. stores
RediClinic plans to open 20 new health clinics in H.E. Butt Grocery Co. stores across Texas. The retail health clinic operator said Monday that the expansion will almost double the 21 RediClinics now operating in H.E. Butt supermarkets. Plans call for eight new RediClinics to open in H.E.B.
More drug retailers join Pharmacy Saver
A leading discounter and several large supermarket chains have joined UnitedHealthcare’s Pharmacy Saver Medicare Part D program. The health insurer said Monday that Target Corp., H.E. Butt Grocery Co., Hy-Vee Inc., Publix Super Markets Inc.