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MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO — Drug Store News has learned that Mary Kelly has been appointed EVP and chief merchandising officer at Rexall Pharma Plus. Kelly, who has more than 26 years experience leading business teams in Canada and the United States, joins the company after four years at Shoppers Drug Mart, most recently as EVP, merchandising and category management. Prior to that, Kelly served 17 years at Target in a  variety of key leadership positions in merchandising and pharmacy, and at Revco Drug Stores and Eli Lilly before that.  

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Outcomes improve, and there can be significant cost savings when infusion pharmacists monitor patients receiving home-based infusion services and intervene when dose adjustments are necessary, according to a Walgreens outcomes analysis study being presented Wednesday at IDWeek 2013 in San Francisco.

CHICAGO — There’s a new way to think outside of the box — by placing both the retailer and supplier in the same marketing sandbox in an effort to generate collaborative marketing campaigns. In other words, “Shared Media.”

INDIANAPOLIS — Health insurer WellPoint said Tuesday that most of its affiliated Medicare drug plans and medical plans with drug coverage will participate in a preferred pharmacy network that includes Rite Aid, Kroger and Walmart pharmacies.

Together, WellPoint said, members had access to more than 11,000 locations around the country. The preferred pharmacy network is part of all of WellPoint's affiliated Part D standalone prescription drug plans and most of its Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid will help elderly people and their caregivers prepare for the annual Medicare Part D enrollment starting in two weeks, the drug store chain said Tuesday.

Rite Aid said its stores around the country would offer Medicare Advisor to help Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers find the plan that suits them best starting on Oct. 15.

GLENDALE, Calif. — Beauty mavens can be wickedly beautiful this Halloween with the new Disney Villains collection now available at Walgreens stores nationwide.

CHICAGO — SMS Assist on Tuesday named Geoffrey Wigner EVP facilities for the technology-driven facilities maintenance and management company.

Wigner, 48, previously served as senior director of store services for Dollar General, where he managed more than $500 million in capital and expense budgets while directing major projects affecting more than 10,000 stores. Wigner helped the nationwide retailer open 625 new stores and renovate 525 others in fiscal year 2011. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens posted a sales gain of 0.8% for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, reaching a record $72.2 billion and filling a record 821 million prescriptions. That volume of prescriptions filled helped Walgreens boost its retail pharmacy market share for the fiscal year to 19.1%. 

Early morning trading boosted Walgreens' share price from a close of $53.80 on Monday to $56.06, an increase of 4.2%.