Content about Medicare

February 7, 2013
CMS study further proof community pharmacy can improve patients' lives, says NACDS

National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and CEO Steve Anderson, calls a new study by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services “further proof of community pharmacy’s ability to improve patients’ lives while making healthcare more affordable in this country.”

February 7, 2013
Survey: Part D 'preferred pharmacy' provision driving rural seniors away from community pharmacy

A survey of community pharmacists suggests that "preferred pharmacy" Medicare Part D drug benefit plans may pose challenges for seniors in rural communities.

February 6, 2013
CVS Caremark pulls lid off Brazilian bombshell, posts 'strong' Q4

CVS Caremark executives expressed optimism Wednesday morning as the company posted record fourth-quarter results, raised its 2013 guidance and continues to work to leverage its distinctive business model to help people on their path to better health amid a rapidly changing healthcare environment.

February 4, 2013
NACDS, NCPA urge expanded role for pharmacists in new healthcare models

Pharmacy groups are advocating that Congress expand the role of pharmacists in new healthcare delivery models.

February 4, 2013
Wasson touts pharmacists expanding role in NACDS conference speech

To put Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson's speech at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' Regional Chain Conference on Monday into perspective, one may consider that pharmacists today are the leading providers of immunizations and vaccinations, whereas five years ago, they weren't involved at all.

January 31, 2013
Partnership aims to curb cardiovascular disease among African-Americans in Alabama

A new health initiative will address cardiovascular disease among African-Americans living in three counties in Alabama where the problem is considered significant.

January 28, 2013
Pharmacy trends and outlook for 2013

Health care is evolving. As obvious of a statement as that is, it doesn’t change the fact that it is very real. Throughout last year, there was intense discussion on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and what impact the outcome of the presidential election might have on its future. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled and elections are settled, healthcare companies and providers across the country are implementing strategies to meet ACA requirements.

January 24, 2013
NCPA: Mandatory mail raising 'serious concerns' among seniors

Seniors have serious concerns regarding mandatory mail-order pharmacy requirements in prescription drug plans, according to a new national survey of 669 Medicare Part D beneficiaries released Thursday by the National Community Pharmacists Association.

January 18, 2013
CVS Caremark issues statement on CMS action related to SilverScript

CVS Caremark has announced that it is working to resolve service issues related to its SilverScript Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan.

January 14, 2013
Medagate launches first dual network healthcare spending card

Medagate, a wholly owned subsidiary of InComm Holdings, announced the launch of the MasterCard Dual Value Health Card, the first dual network healthcare spending card.

January 11, 2013
Retailers take part in transition to quality-based healthcare model and get paid

Walgreens' Arkansas Payment Improvement Initiative aims to create a more patient-centered and cost-efficient payment system for the retailer's home state.

The latest move by Walmart is as sure an indication as any that health care is becoming less about fee-for-service and more about basing compensation on ratings derived from patient outcomes.

January 10, 2013
HHS announces 106 new ACOs, including three affiliated with Walgreens

Advocare Walgreens Well Network, Diagnostic Clinic Walgreens Well Network and Scott & White Walgreens Well Network have been selected as three of 106 new Accountable Care Organizations in Medicare, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced.

January 9, 2013
Consumerism, budgets, ACA issues to weigh on healthcare industry in 2013

Ten issues will take center stage as the healthcare industry moves to meet the requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

January 8, 2013
Telemedicine trend gets a boost in Congress

Widespread reliance on telemedicine to electronically deliver health and pharmacy services to hard-to-reach patients in remote locations is getting closer to reality. And in a fast-evolving health care system struggling to improve access to health services at a lower overall cost, that’s a good thing.

January 8, 2013
Use of generics would save money, study finds

A new study indicates that the public bears "unnecessary expense" when generic drugs aren't used.

January 4, 2013
Bill would advance telemedicine

New legislation aims to increase access to telemedicine services through government-sponsored health programs.

January 2, 2013
NCPA: Congress' 'fiscal cliff' bill could force independents out of Medicare diabetes business

While the "fiscal cliff" bill heads off the most severe tax implications for most Americans, the 25.8 million Americans with diabetes may find this bill a bitter pill to swallow, suggested the National Community Pharmacists Association in a press release.

January 2, 2013
Stock market rebounds following 'fiscal cliff' compromise

Wall Street on Wednesday celebrated the "fiscal cliff" compromise as stocks across the board were trading up by some 200 basis points. As of noon, the Dow was up 1.7% and Nasdaq 2.3%.

December 19, 2012
Symposium brings together specialty pharmacy stakeholders

The changing healthcare environment and the challenges and opportunities of specialty pharmacy were the biggest themes at Acro Pharmaceutical Services' sixth annual Payer and Managed Care Symposium in Philadelphia last Thursday.

December 17, 2012
NACDS recognizes U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan on behalf of pharmacy patient care

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores recognized U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan for her continued leadership on behalf of pharmacy patient care.

December 13, 2012
CVS Caremark outlines growth framework at annual Analyst Day meeting

CVS Caremark executives expressed optimism going into 2013 and outlined its strategic growth framework, which leverages the company’s unique integrated model, during its annual Analyst Day held on Thursday in New York City.

December 11, 2012
Electronic prescribing comes full circle with automated refill authorizations

E-prescribing offers many well-known benefits to physicians, pharmacists and patients alike. Beyond the well-known patient benefits, real-time transactions with automated requests and responses promise to create efficiencies by speeding the medication ordering process, reducing or eliminating the back-and-forth communications between pharmacists and clinicians commonly associated with handwritten prescriptions.

December 4, 2012
Surprise! Rx medicines lower overall health costs

Amid the glacial pace of change in government and health policy, congressional number crunchers have finally acknowledged an indisputable fact long known to health and pharmacy experts: prescription medicines save money.

November 30, 2012
Prescription drugs lower Medicare costs, CBO study finds

Increasing the prescriptions filled by Medicare beneficiaries by 1% would reduce the program's spending on medical services by about 0.2% by reducing costs in such areas as hospitalizations, according to a new report by the Congressional Budget Office.

November 29, 2012
Pharmacies extend ACO movement

With new payment models beginning to change the way hospitals and health providers are reimbursed for their services, health plan payers scrambling to control unsustainable medical costs and health information technology linking up the patient care silos, a more integrated and patient-centric care model is emerging out of the chaos of a health system in transformation. 


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