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ALEXANDRIA, Va. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores commended the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Tuesday after the agency proposed a rule that would withdraw two provisions related to pharmacy Medicaid reimbursement.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT It’s about time.

(THE NEWS: NACDS, NCPA in joint statement praise CMS' move to withdraw provisions of AMP rule currently blocked by injunction. For the full story, click here)

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The announcement by P&G that it is looking to further expand its Future Friendly platform in 2011 to now target a reduction in packaging materials, as well as truck and fuel usage, is important on several different levels. Not only does the next phase of the program further solidify P&G's lead role as a consumer packaged goods company that is making a significant impact to better the environment, but, at the retailer level, P&G is expecting to see a boost in powder detergent sales.

PURCHASE, N.Y. —PepsiCo is extending its AMP franchise with two new products. AMP Energy juice is Pepsi’s first foray into the energy juice category. Pepsi’s VP marketing for the brand said the new introduction is positioned toward consumers who were not interested in coffee to solve their energy needs, but wanted something beyond traditional energy drink offerings.

NEW YORK The mid-December plea by 16 members of Congress to assure a fair payment for pharmacies that dispense generic drugs to Medicaid patients was welcome news. But with the movement to pass a health-reform bill reaching a crescendo in the Senate, the flawed Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement system still is a hot potato that too few lawmakers seem willing or able to touch.

More aptly, it’s a political football that keeps getting tossed around the House and Senate health-reform debate.