Chain Pharmacy

About 20% of Chicago staff pharmacists at Walgreens have resigned from the National Pharmacists Association (NPhA) as talks between the union, Walgreens, and a federal mediator failed to produce an agreement. About 1,200 Walgreens union pharmacists in northern Illinois and northwest Indiana walked off their jobs at 10 PM on July 11

A dizzying array of new products was highlighted at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace 2005 conference, held in New Orleans last month. At this largest front-end trade show in the industry, the buzzword was natural, with the majority of new products containing natural ingredients to satisfy customer demand for safer solutions to healthcare problems. Here's a look at the new entries in personal care, dietary supplementation, and home health care.

General Motors' decision to drop Walgreens as its drug provider has prompted the chain to fight back by publicizing "the myth of mail order." Walgreens claims employers can save money by giving workers the choice to fill 90-day supplies of chronic meds at retail or mail-order pharmacies rather than by requiring them to use the latter exclusively.

When the dog (PBMs and disgruntled patients) bites, when the bee (low reimbursement) stings, when pharmacists are feeling sad (10-hour shifts, no lunch breaks, and a line out the door), they simply remember their favorite things, and then they don't feel so bad.

Drug wholesalers had a pretty good 2003, judging from statistics recently released by the Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) in its 2004 Industry Profile and Healthcare Factbook. The publication provides statistics on the healthcare distribution industry, based on survey data collected from HDMA members, as well as findings on the pharmaceutical industry in general.

CHPA session featuring Bodine from CVS and Fuller from NACDS talking about challenges in pharmacy

What's new to treat spring allergies

Walgreens involved in class action suit which charges falsification of expiration dates

New Jersey revised its 100-year-old pharmacy practice act to allow pharmacists to administer immunizations and enter collaborative practice agreements to manage drug therapy under protocol.

Following in the footsteps of Walgreens, CVS announced that it will not participate in future health plan contracts requiring refill scripts to be filled by mail order pharmacies.

Walgreens threatened to pull its 356 pharmacies out of the California Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) if the state proceeds with a 5% reimbursement cut slated to begin on New Year's Day.

CVS Vs. Walgreens How the two chains are competing and growing.

New cough, cold, and sore throat products for upcoming season.

Rite Aid ordered to pay $250,000 to woman who said information pamphlet on Lyme disease medication told her to take milk and having done so compromised the antibiotic's effectiveness.

CVS settles overtime lawsuit with Alabama R.Ph.s.

Walgreens Health Initiatives home infusion and supplies business

walgreens to reduce pharmacy hours in illinois due tocuts in state medicaid payments

"Stark geographic differences in the prevalence of care" are delayed by cost