Chain Drug Review back issues from December 2007:
Walgreens withdraws from four CVS Caremark Rx plans.(News)
Dec 17, 2007 ... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- After months of talks over what it labels "unreasonably low and below-market payment rates" went nowhere, Walgreen Co. opted last month to stop providing pharmacy services to pateints covered by four prescription plans managed by CVS Caremark Corp. The plans ...
Pharmacy presses Medicaid lawsuit.(News)
Dec 17, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WASHINGTON -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) have followed up their lawsuit against the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with a motion requesting an expedited review ...
Expert says CMS' methods flawed.(News)(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WASHINGTON -- A study submitted in support of community pharmacy's court challenge to the Medicaid reimbursement cuts imposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provides a startling view of the flawed methodology used by the agency. Ironically, the report ...
Recruiting practices draw fire.(News)
Dec 17, 2007 ... TORONTO -- "Shoppers Drug Mart or Poachers Drug Mart" is the provocative heading of an editorial scheduled to run in the January 2008 print edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal but given early release late last month. The piece argues that it is unethical for the ...
Kelly brings clout to new NACDS post.(News)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Carol Kelly)
Dec 17, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has named Carol Kelly to the newly created position of senior vice president of government affairs and public policy. She will join the organization next month. A former senior ...
Broad role for e-scripts is advocated.(News)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WASHINGTON -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has reaffirmed its support of electronic prescribing of controlled substances as a safe and secure method of providing needed medications to patients. In testimony on behalf of the trade group, Rite Aid Corp. vice ...
Big A wants to dispose of its stores.(News)(Big A Drug Stores Inc.)(DJM Realty, LLC.)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... SOUTH GATE, Calif. -- Big A Drug Stores has selected DJM Realty to manage the disposition of all 19 of its retail store leases in California. The drug chain--which operates 13 Drug Emporium stores, two stores each under the Big A and Drug Barn banners, and one each under the ...
Cohen becomes CACDS chairman.(News)(Russell Cohen)(Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TORONTO -- Russell Cohen has been elected to a two-year term as chairman of the board of directors of the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores. As executive vice president of industry and government affairs at Katz Group Canada Ltd., Cohen ...
Rite Aid appoints Thompson senior VP.(News)(Robert Thompson, vice president)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Robert Thompson has joined Rite Aid Corp. as senior vice president of its Western division, where he will supervise over 900 stores. Thompson, 50, most recently served as senior vice president of Target Corp.'s Western region, where he was responsible for 320 ...
NACDS Foundation Dinner.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... More than 550 retail executives and representatives from the supplier community attended the ninth annual NACDS Charitable Foundation Dinner in New York earlier this month. The event, held at the Hilton New York Hotel and featuring NBC television journalist and "Meet The Press" ...
Coty builds portfolio with acquisition of Del.(News)(Del Laboratories Inc.)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Coty Inc.'s agreement earlier this month to acquire Del Laboratories Inc. will bolster its presence in the color cosmetics and skin care arenas and help move the fragrance giant a step closer to its goal of having $5 billion in annual sales by 2010. "We view the ...
Take Care surpasses 100-clinic milestone.(News)(Take Care Health Systems)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. -- Walgreen Co.'s Take Care Health Systems subsidiary opened its 100th walk-in health clinic late last month. The milestone was reached when the company opened three clinics simultaneously in Walgreens stores in Miami; Orlando, Fla.; and Tucson, Ariz. ...
Kerr launches health center.(News)(Kerr Drug)
Dec 17, 2007 ... RALEIGH, N.C. -- Kerr Drug opened its newest concept store last month when it debuted its Community Health Care Center in Sanford, N.C. "We made a conscious decision--a commitment--to provide North Carolinians with a comprehensive health care facility focused on their overall ...
Wyeth strengthens its senior management team.(Supplier News)(Wyeth Pharmaceuticals)
Dec 17, 2007 ... MADISON, N.J. -- Wyeth has announced to promotion of several executives who have been key contributors to the pharmaceutical manufacturer's success over the past several years. "As I prepare for the role of chief executive officer in January, I am pleased to have these ...
Colgate, Aetna join forces.(Supplier News)(Colgate-Palmolive Co.)
Dec 17, 2007 ... HARTFORD, Ct. -- Aetna and Colgate-Palmolive Co. have teamed up to help Aetna members improve their oral health. Executives say the campaign is designed to educate members about the emerging evidence of a link between oral health and systemic health. In addition, the ...
Meltdown hits store shelves.(Supplier News)(VPX Sports Inc.)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DAVIE, Fla. -- VPX Sports Inc. has introduced Meltdown, an innovative fat-loss product that boasts exclusive new fat-burning compounds. Meltdown employs three forms of Yohimbine to stimulate blood flow in adipose tissue, thus causing stored ...
McNeil to offer Zyrtec as O-T-C.(Supplier News)(McNeil Consumer Healthcare)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. -- McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a unit of McNeil-PPC Inc. has received Food and Drug Administration approval to market a nonprescription version of the allergy treatment Zyrtec. Cleared for use in adults and children, the product is said to relieve symptoms that are the ...
Del campaign asks, 'Have You Seen Sally?'.(Supplier News)(Del Laboratories Inc.)
Dec 17, 2007 ... UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- On the cusp of 2008, Del Laboratories Inc.'s Sally Hansen brand is poised to launch a host of items to greet the new year with a "Have You Seen Sally?" theme. The broad new lineup includes Sally Hansen Nail Lacquer, Nail Essentials and an Extra Moisturizing ...
Thermionics takes a new approach to hot-cold therapy.(Supplier News)(ThermiPaq pads)
Dec 17, 2007 ... SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Opportunity abounds in the hot/cold therapy category for retailers willing to break with traditional products, says Thermionics Corp. president Gregg Harwood. Thermionics can help drug chains break with the past by supplying them with reusable, all-natural ...
Health Enterprises unveils accessories.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NORTH ATTLEBORO, Ma. -- Health Enterprises Inc. has expanded its line of hearing aid accessories with four new products. The company also has announced that Britain's Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) is offering two of its products to hearing-impaired people in ...
Ex-Eckerd exec shares insights in book.(Supplier News)(Eckerd Drug Co.)(Tommy White, executive)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Promoting worker morale and productivity through good management is the subject of a new book by retired Eckerd Drug veteran Tommy White. The 138-page book, The Wreckless Manager, is subtitled "A no 'B.S.' way of managing that allows you to be your natural self, ...
Five new patents go to Parata.(Supplier News)(Parata Systems LLC )(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... DURHAM, N.C. -- Parata Systems LLC has earned five additional patents for pharmacy automation. The patents are among 24 the company has garnered since its founding in 2001. "Parata is founded on the principle of disciplined innovation; our engineers relentlessly innovate the ...
Longs continues to improve profitability of stores.(Business)(Longs Drug Stores Corp.)(Financial report)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Longs Drug Stores Corp. continued to ring up formidable earnings gains in the face of modest top-line growth through the first nine months of fiscal 2008, as third quarter profits came in comfortably ahead of the investment community's projections. The ...
Outlook is updated for rest of fiscal '08.(Business)(Longs Drug Stores Corp.)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- With a solid 39 weeks behind it and no additional store closure charges or gains expected to be booked during the final quarter, Longs' management expects to post adjusted earnings from continuing operations between $2.67 and $2.73 per diluted share for fiscal 2008, ...
Performance of Cardinal operating units mixed.(Business)(Cardinal Health Inc.)(Financial report)
Dec 17, 2007 ... DUBLIN, Ohio. -- Cardinal Health began its fiscal 2008 year with modest single-digit growth in revenues and income from continuing operations. Although earnings before special items met Wall Street's expectations, a disappointing performance in the core Healthcare Supply Chain ...
AmerisourceBergen profits off in quarter.(Business)(Financial report)
Dec 17, 2007 ... VALLEY FORGE, Pa. -- Income from continuing lines grew at a slower pace than revenues in fiscal 2007 at wholesaler AmerisourceBergen Corp., as a hefty fourth quarter writedown of vaccine inventory forced profits down in the final period. Results for the quarter consequently fell a penny ...
Drug store stocks fall in November.(Business)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Chain drug stocks slipped again in November along with the rest of Wall Street, but investors began to refocus on those equities because of their relatively recession-resistant nature in the face of a slowing economy. In the period from October 31, 2007, to November ...
Execs bullish about fiscal '08.(AmerisourceBergen Corp.)(executives)
Dec 17, 2007 ... VALLEY FORGE, Pa. -- Despite an uneven performance by its operating segments in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, AmerisourceBergen executives remained upbeat about fiscal 2008. "Looking ahead, we expect the fiscal 2008 performance to meet or exceed our long-term goals," said ...
Chain drug suppliers see earnings retreat.(Business)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Major manufacturers of core drug store merchandise saw earnings from ongoing lines slip 1.1 % in the third quarter of 2007 in the wake of major charges at one company. Aggregate earnings from continuing operations for 25 vendors tracked by CDR dipped to $18.88 ...
Special items cause Duane Reade loss.(Business)(Duane Reade Holding Corp.)(Financial report)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Closed store costs plus expenses related to its former chief executive officer increased both the net and operating losses at Duane Reade Holdings Inc. for the third quarter and the first nine months of fiscal 2007. However, strong sales growth and healthy gross margins drove a ...
This is hardly the moment for discontent.(My Turn)
Dec 17, 2007; ... A core strength of chain drug retailing has traditionally been its solidarity, its sense of itself as one industry, and its ability to speak, if not always act, with one voice. Chain drug retailing has been unique among the mass retailing segments in that quality. The ...
NACDS gets Rx message across.(My Turn)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)
Dec 17, 2007; ... At an appearance last month, Steve Anderson spoke about the substantial benefits that the nation's health care system can realize by capitalizing on the full potential of community pharmacy. After noting the breadth and accessibility of the industry's infrastructure--on average, there is a ...
Community Rx looks very different post-CVS Caremark.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- It's true: CVS Caremark Corp. is in the early stages of altering forever the practice of retail pharmacy in America. Anyone who doubts that is in for a rude awakening. To elaborate, this year's merger of CVS Corp. and Caremark Rx Inc. will, before this decade ...
It's really 'a logical evolution'.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(CVS Corp. merged with Caremark Rx Inc.)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- The creation of CVS Caremark had its share of drama. The merger of CVS Corp. and Caremark Rx Inc. was first announced November1, 2006, and heralded by Caremark chairman, president and chief executive officer Mac Crawford as "a powerful force for ...
CVS, Caremark grow toward watershed merger.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... 1963 The first CVS store, selling health and beauty products, is founded in Lowell, Mass., by brothers Stanley and Sidney Goldstein and partner Ralph Hoagland. CVS stands for Consumer Value Stores. 1964 The CVS chain grows to 17 stores. The original CVS ...
Joining of two powerhouses spells success.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(CVS Corp.)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Perhaps ironically, the CVS staffer most in touch with the new CVS Caremark entity, its vision and its potential going forward is not a pharmacist but the company's chief financial officer, Dave Packard. Not without coincidence, he is among the merger's biggest ...
Third quarter results are on target.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(Financial report)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- By all measures, the third quarter of 2007 was a strong period for the recently merged CVS Caremark Corp., as growth at the bottom line far outpaced revenues. With earnings beating Wall Street's average estimate, analysts were generally pleased with the overall ...
It's a thumbs up from Wall Street.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(forecast of drugstores financial earnings )
Dec 17, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- By Wall Street's calculations, CVS Caremark Corp. can be counted on to follow this year's growth with solid, double-digit earnings gains for some years to come. On average, analysts polled by Thomson Financial are calling for diluted earnings per share (EPS) to reach ...
Numbers promise long-term gains.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(Financial report)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Although revenues were just shy of Wall Street's $20.56 billion forecast, CVS Caremark's third quarter earnings exceeded by a penny the 44-cents-per-share average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial. Even with some concerns regarding slowing same-store ...
It's all straight to the point.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(CVS Corp. merged with Caremark Rx Inc.)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Just as CVS Corp. always strived to be first to market with its products and services, the company followed such a strategy with its acquisition of Caremark Rx Inc., says Michael Ferdinandi, senior vice president of human resources, corporate communications and ...
CVS/Caremark cultures make meshing easy.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Those who worked for Caremark Rx Inc. when the business operated as a separate entity continue to he pleased with their expanded roles as the story of the combined CVS Caremark operation continues to unfold. "Like we did in our numerous successful ...
Working to unleash combined company's full potential.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(CVS Corp. merged with Caremark Rx Inc.)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- If much about the CVS offices here remains the same in the aftermath of the drug chain's merger with Caremark, there's one major difference: Chris Bodine, one of CVS' most prominent and influential executives, now devotes much of his time to Caremark. ...
'We have to lead' to be successful.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(CVS Caremark)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Before he began overseeing CVS Caremark's health care operations, Chris Bodine played a key role in helping the company move forward in a number of other, equally critical areas. The most prominent of these positions, and the one where his impact is most ...
'A new vision to improve the quality of human life'.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- CVS Caremark executive vice president of PBM marketing Jack Bruner is passionate about the merger of the two companies earlier this year and the positive impact it is having on America's health care system. "The new brand combines ease and access with Caremark's ...
Web used to empower patients.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(CVS Caremark)(caremark.com)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NASHVILLE -- Patients with prescription coverage through CVS Caremark have a unique option on how to manage their benefits. Through its web site, caremark.com, the company offers patients the ability to take care of every aspect of their ...
Go-to-market efforts are custom tailored.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- CVS Caremark is uniquely positioned to change the way consumers, payers and other health care providers see health care, according to executive vice president of PBM marketing Jack Bruner. "Our value proposition is to provide the lowest overall cost and most engaged ...
Network pharmacies get ample support.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(Caremark Pharmacy Services)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- Caremark Pharmacy Services' primary criteria for selecting retail partners when building a PBM network are its clients' requirements, according to executive vice president of industry relations Rudy Mladenovic. All network pharmacies must meet basic credentialing ...
Goal is to maximize Rx therapy's impact.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NASHVILLE -- CVS Caremark leverages its purchasing power across all market segments for the benefit of its clients. "In today's marketplace we recognize that the understanding and appropriate use of pharmaceuticals is crucial to holding down ...
'Working together to benefit all'.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- CVS Caremark is taking the opportunity as a combined company to expand its position as a trusted health adviser to help consumersunderstand and navigate the health care system, says senior vice president and chief clinical officer Dr. Jan Berger. Berger ...
Patient privacy is top priority.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- CVS Caremark has joined several other health care and employer groups in an effort to protect the privacy of health information. Calling itself the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST), the group hopes to develop a common security framework that will use a ...
CVS Caremark emphasizes simple solutions.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(Occupation overview)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- As the recently appointed senior vice president of health care services for CVS Caremark, Helena Foulkes has turned her focus toward how the company can continue to combine the pharmacy benefits management and retail services businesses to provide the lowest overall ...
Technology is a facilitator.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Technology plays a key role at CVS Caremark in improving patient service, expanding health care services and achieving better medication outcomes, notes Jon Roberts, senior vice president of information systems and chief information ...
RFID is still waiting on the horizon.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(CVS Corp. proceeds with several forms of technology and donates money to improve the health care system)(radio frequency identification)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Although CVS Caremark is proceeding with several forms of technology, the chain, like many other retailers, continues to take a cautious approach toward widespread adoption of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. According to senior vice president of ...
MinuteClinic model key part of plan.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- Consumers have completely embraced the MinuteClinic concept, chief executive officer Michael Howe says. "The retail clinic model will clearly be a key part of the retail and health care delivery landscape going forward," he says, citing pest-visit research that ...
For patients, 'walking in' makes more sense.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(MinuteClinic)(QuickMedx)(retail health centers)
Dec 17, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Young parents of today owe a debt of gratitude to Rick Krieger. On a wintry Minneapolis weekend in 1999, a hurried and worried Krieger spent two hours at an urgent care center awaiting a strep throat test for his ill son ....
In-store service and much more.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(CVS Caremark)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Nurse practitioners consistently stress the importance of a "regular medical home" with every patient they observe who makes a visit to a MinuteClinic, according to Michael Howe, chief executive officer of the retail health clinics, ...
CVS Caremark gets ready to take on leadership role.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- As CVS Caremark settles into its first year of operation, Caremark Pharmacy Services president Howard McLure feels the company is uniquely situated to be a primary player in the future of American health care. "Pharmaceutical care is the safest and most ...
Medicare Part D seen as plus.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NASHVILLE -- One development that has had a significant impact on CVS Caremark's business is the Medicare prescription drug benefit, known to many as Medicare Part D. The company sponsors one of the program's 10 largest prescription drug plans ...
CVS Caremark to foster, improve PBM/retailer synergies.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(pharmacy benefits managers)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- Pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) support community pharmacies in many ways and will continue to evolve to support them better, according to Caremark executive vice president of operations Chris Luthin. For instance, as community pharmacists adjudicate and fill ...
Striving for differentiation, uniqueness.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- Early excitement over the creation of CVS Caremark has been far greater than anticipated, according to David Joyner, the company's executive vice president of sales and account services. While Joyner expected clients to take a wait-and-see approach, "they are ...
PBM's panoply of patient services.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)(pharmacy benefit managers)(Brief article)
Dec 17, 2007 ... CVS Caremark provides comprehensive pharmacy benefits management services to more than 2,000 health plan sponsors nationwide, as well as their participants. Beyond core PBM provisions, the company's offerings include disease management and specialty pharmacy services ...
Chronic disorders get first-class clinical management.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NASHVILLE--As the nation's largest specialty pharmacy provider, CVS Caremark is dedicated to providing the most appropriate care and management for individuals with chronic conditions. CVS Caremark provides "the broadest offering of specialty pharmaceuticals in the industry," ...
Specialty medications are never a problem.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- Less than 1.5% of the population requires treatment with a specialty medication. Because specialty pharmaceuticals are often manufactured utilizing DNA technology or other biological processes, they are high-cost and require special handling and storage, including ...
Code of conduct gets the message across.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Caremark is currently in the process of creating a new code of conduct to reflect changes resulting from the merger between the retailing giant and he pharmacy benefits manager earlier this year. "The code provides guidance on key ethics and compliance ...
Unique opportunity to be heard.(CVS CAREMARK Changes the Game)
Dec 17, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- With changes in federal and state programs looming on the horizon, community pharmacies will play a critical role in helping to shape the direction these programs take, CVS Caremark senior vice president of government affairs Russell Ring says. "CVS Caremark ...