Content about healthcare

February 10, 2011
NACDS expresses support of The Patients' Freedom to Choose Act of 2011

Companion legislation, which seeks to change a provision in the healthcare-reform law and permit Americans to use their flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts to buy over-the-counter medications without a prescription, has the support of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

February 10, 2011
Take Care offers discounted sports, camp physicals

Take Care Health Systems announced Thursday that through April 30, the retail clinic operator will be offering sports and camp physicals for $35. The physicals, regularly $60, are administered by board-certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants at select Walgreens locations.

February 9, 2011
HHS secretary announced $750 million investment in prevention, public health

Department of Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday announced a $750 million investment in prevention and public health, funded through the Prevention and Public Health Fund created by the new healthcare law.

February 7, 2011
At NACDS conference, Merlo and Anderson note pharmacy victories

Pharmacy's role in the U.S. healthcare system has expanded dramatically over the past two years, thanks to several victories gained through pharmacy care and services.

February 7, 2011
Kerr Drug supports Sen. Hagan's MTM legislation

Two pharmacy trade groups already have given their blessings to legislation that would support medication therapy management, and a retail pharmacy chain that has made MTM part of its mission is following suit.

February 7, 2011
NACDS reaches out to Sebelius about state Medicaid program expansion

Shortly after Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius reached out to state governors about extending their Medicaid programs, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores sent a letter to Sebelius emphasizing the importance of expanding patient access to prescription drugs and pharmacy services to cut healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes.

February 7, 2011
Pfizer to acquire Ferrosan's consumer healthcare business

One of the world's largest drug makers has entered a definitive agreement to purchase a Copenhagen-based consumer healthcare business.

February 4, 2011
Merlo shows why he's boss

A new chapter officially is under way for CVS Caremark, and it comes as little surprise that the Larry Merlo era has begun with a reminder of the core principles that put him in the captain's seat to begin with — flawless execution, cross-functional thinking and management, and enhancing value.

February 4, 2011
MTM could take chunk out of the $290 billion in annual healthcare costs

Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., argued before the Senate Thursday around the value that increased access to medication therapy management can deliver to overall health care — that includes cutting into the $290 billion in annual costs associated with medication nonadherence and preventing as many as 89,000 premature deaths.

February 4, 2011
NACDS Foundation: Patient care database more than doubled in size

A free, publicly accessible and searchable healthcare resource developed last year by the charitable arm of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores dramatically has grown since its inception.

February 4, 2011
Restoring FSA OTC coverage: Better medicine for all

As much as the Affordable Care Act was a tough pill to swallow for many conservatives, the flexible spending account changes may be the first piece of what many consider to be "bad medicine" to be reversed this year. Incentivizing self-care is better medicine for all constituents.

February 3, 2011
Kinray acquisition drives Cardinal Health's Q2

Second-quarter revenue for Cardinal Health rose 2%, thanks in part to its acquisition of pharmaceutical distributor Kinray.

February 3, 2011
Merlo puts stamp on his leadership in fourth-quarter earnings call

What will define success for CVS Caremark in the years ahead? If you ask incoming CEO Larry Merlo, it all comes down to three things: flawless execution, cross-functional thinking and management, and enhancing value. Not coincidentally, those are three key reasons Merlo inherited the top spot at the company.

February 3, 2011
Pharmacy lobbying groups back MTM Empowerment Act of 2011

New legislation that supports medication therapy management, which is known to improve patient health outcomes and lower healthcare costs, has been endorsed by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association.

February 2, 2011
Navarro promotes heart health

Navarro Discount Pharmacies and a number of healthcare partners on Jan. 26 hosted a free health fair to kick off Heart Health Awareness Month in February, the pharmacy operator announced Wednesday.

February 1, 2011
Biosimilars regulations 
unlikely to unfold soon

As soon as members of Congress took their seats last month, the new Republican majority announced it would make good on its pledge to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The effort largely is symbolic and unlikely to succeed, so at least one portion of the healthcare-reform law will likely remain in effect, namely the abbreviated approval pathway for follow-on biologics, also known as the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act.


February 1, 2011
CVS study: Adherence shrinks health costs

Pharmacy and health policy advocates endlessly tout the cost-saving 
benefits of improved medication adherence. In January, CVS Caremark put more teeth into that argument with some dramatic new findings that should get the attention of every health plan payer.


February 1, 2011
Fla. judge overturns individual mandate provision in healthcare-reform law

A federal judge in Florida has overturned a key portion of the healthcare-reform law and ruled that the entire law must be scrapped.

February 1, 2011
Generics to save $70 bn

NEW YORK — The U.S. healthcare system could get at least $70 billion in savings over the next four years thanks to loss of patent protection for branded drugs, according to published reports.


IMS Health SVP Murray Aitken said at the Reuters Health Summit that generics also would increase their dominance in terms of prescriptions dispensed, increasing from 77% during the first half of this year to perhaps 85% by 2014, Reuters reported.


February 1, 2011
P&G's Steele to retire, business units to be consolidated

Procter & Gamble on Tuesday announced that Robert Steele, vice chairman of global health and well-being, will retire effective Sept. 1.

February 1, 2011
Telehealth innovation takes the stage at CES

LAS VEGAS — While Apple’s iPad and the long line of next-generation electronic tablets hitting the market this year may have been the “sexy” items at last month’s Consumer Electronics Show, it was the unprecedented number of healthcare-related consumer electronics that better served as a harbinger of what’s to come.

February 1, 2011
Walgreens introduces Way to Well Commitment program

Walgreens on Tuesday announced the implementation of its Walgreens Way to Well Commitment program, a new Walgreens initiative geared toward improving the everyday health of Americans nationwide.

February 1, 2011
Zipnosis: Giant leap forward for retail health

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Convenient care industry pioneer Kevin Smith took a leap more than 10 years ago and helped create the successful nurse practitioner-staffed retail clinic concept. Today, the industry trailblazer is embarking on a new venture to further revolutionize access to health care. Enter Zipnosis.com.


January 28, 2011
NACDS files legal brief in case concerning military Tricare program

Concerns that contracting rules affecting healthcare providers that service Tricare beneficiaries could extend to retail pharmacies has prompted the country’s largest chain pharmacy lobby to file a friend-of-the-court brief in a lawsuit over the regulations.

January 28, 2011
Pfizer chief medical officer honored by HBA

The chief medical officer at one of the largest drug makers in the world has been named "woman of the year" by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association.

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