Content about Drug Fix

October 12, 2012
Blurred lines between channels and better HBA options will continue to drive dollar store growth

It appears that even when the economy gets back to humming again on all cylinders that America’s shopping patterns will have been forever changed, and that's only going to support dollar store growth for years to come.

 WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — It appears that even when the economy gets back to humming on all cylinders that America’s shopping patterns will have been forever changed, and that's only going to support dollar store growth for years to come. Clearly, the two biggest competitors in Family Dollar and Dollar General are ramping up store growth all over the country, with the two companies lining up on opposite corners much the way drug chains began had done in the '80s and '90s.

October 12, 2012
Pet meds provide new way to draw in customers

One of the most common reasons that retailers give for pet-medication programs is that pets are part of the family.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — One of the most common reasons that retailers give for pet-medication programs is that pets are part of the family.

As analyst Debbie Wang of investment firm Morningstar told Drug Store News in April 2012, more empty nesters and young couples putting off having children are driving increases in pet ownership, and with that comes a need for pet healthcare.

October 10, 2012
Supercenters rule, but small formats to accelerate for Walmart

Walmart plans a modest acceleration of its small-format stores in the coming years as investors were assured Wednesday that financial returns are now comparable with the company’s large supercenters.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart plans a modest acceleration of its small-format stores in the coming years as investors were assured Wednesday morning that financial returns are now comparable with the company’s large supercenters.

October 9, 2012
Vet, FTC meeting affirms pharmacists' animal medication role

A meeting with federal officials last week indicates that pharmacists' importance in dispensing animal drugs is growing.

RHINELANDER, Wis. — A meeting with federal officials last week indicated that pharmacists' importance in dispensing animal drugs is growing.

Last Tuesday, pharmacists and veterinarians met with officials from the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., for a four-session meeting that affirmed pharmacists' increasing role, according to online pet supply company Drs. Foster and Smith.

October 8, 2012
Deloitte: CPG companies not keeping up with explosive growth of dollar channel

Only 58% of consumer packaged goods executives view dollar stores as a strategic channel, according to Deloitte’s new "Dollar Store Strategies for National Brands" study.

NEW YORK — Only 58% of consumer packaged goods executives view dollar stores as a strategic channel, according to Deloitte’s new "Dollar Store Strategies for National Brands" study. Deloitte advises that CPG companies may not be keeping pace with the explosive growth of the $56 billion dollar store industry, and should act now to maximize market share and profits.

In other survey highlights:

October 5, 2012
FDA regulation of mobile health apps: A prescription for growth?

What if Moore's law — meaning the number of transistors per square inch on integrated circuits would double every two years — applied to healthcare applications?

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — What if Moore's law — meaning the number of transistors per square inch on integrated circuits would double every two years — applied to healthcare applications? That actually was all the talk earlier this year at the TedMed conference, at least according to a blog written by Dave Copeland, a well-vetted business and technology journalist.

October 5, 2012
The growing convenient care industry continues to gain momentum

Just as a new study emerged, putting a number against retail-based health clinics and indicating that the clinics are poised for strong growth in the coming years, southern Pennsylvania health insurer Independence Blue Cross announced that it is has added coverage for urgent care centers and retail health clinics, and developed a new Web tool to help members locate such facilities.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Just as a new study emerged, putting a number against retail-based health clinics and indicating that the clinics are poised for strong growth in the coming years, southern Pennsylvania health insurer Independence Blue Cross announced that it is has added coverage for urgent care centers and retail health clinics, and developed a new Web tool to help members locate such facilities.

October 4, 2012
Rite Aid opens 'next generation' Wellness store, reports September sales

Rite Aid unveiled what it called its "next generation" Wellness store as the chain reported a decrease in same-store sales Thursday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid unveiled what it called its "next generation" Wellness store as the chain reported a decrease in same-store sales Thursday.

The store, in Lemoyne, Pa., is less than a mile from the 4,639-store chain's Camp Hill, Pa., headquarters. A ribbon-cutting Thursday morning marked the store's grand opening.

October 4, 2012
Wellness makes it all 'Rite'

What should be clear by now is that Rite Aid is making a big comeback, and along the way, it's also carving out an important niche for itself.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — What should be clear by now is that Rite Aid is making a big comeback, and along the way, it's also carving out an important niche for itself.

(THE NEWS: Rite Aid opens 'next generation' Wellness store, reports September sales. For the full story, click here.)

October 3, 2012
Independence Blue Cross expands coverage to urgent care, retail clinics

Independence Blue Cross announced that it has expanded members' access to care by adding coverage for treatment at urgent care centers and retail clinics, and also has developed a new Web tool to help members locate these facilities.

PHILADELPHIA — Independence Blue Cross announced that it has expanded members' access to care by adding coverage for treatment at urgent care centers and retail clinics, and also has developed a new Web tool to help members locate these facilities.

The new Web tool is designed to make it easier for members to find urgent care centers and retail clinics for care for nonemergency conditions when their personal physicians are not available, like evenings and weekends.

October 1, 2012
Kaiser Health News: Legislation to be introduced to create new FDA office overseeing mobile health apps

Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., of the Silicon Valley is preparing to introduce legislation that will create a new division within the Food and Drug Administration to govern fast-developing healthcare applications, according to a report published by Kaiser Health News last week.

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., of the Silicon Valley is preparing to introduce legislation that will create a new division within the Food and Drug Administration to govern fast-developing healthcare applications, according to a report published by Kaiser Health News last week. 

It's big business — according to projections made by Research2guidance, the healthcare mobile app market, dubbed mHealth, could total $1.3 billion by year's end, up from $718 million in 2011. 

September 28, 2012
New study demonstrates retail clinic model growth

The new data by Marketdata Enterprises is significant as it puts a number against a very valuable and fast-growing segment of health care that will continue to grow regardless of who is elected president and what happens to healthcare reform.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The new data by Marketdata Enterprises is significant as it puts a number against a very valuable and fast-growing segment of health care that will continue to grow regardless of who is elected president and what happens to healthcare reform.

September 28, 2012
Patients can't afford to be cheap on medication therapies

Sticker shock is often a major factor in any person's purchasing decisions, but while deciding to put off buying a new car might not have catastrophic consequences, not filling a prescription because it costs too much can.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Sticker shock is often a major factor in any person's purchasing decisions, but while deciding to put off buying a new car might not have catastrophic consequences, not filling a prescription because it costs too much can.

(THE NEWS: Pharmacists say cost is biggest barrier to Rx adherence. Click here to read the story.) 

September 28, 2012
Walgreens all systems go for 2013; reports 4Q, annual sales

Fiscal 2012 is now in Walgreens' rearview mirror as the company looks ahead toward 2013 with its foot on the accelerator

 DEERFIELD, Ill. — Fiscal 2012 now is in Walgreens' rearview mirror as the company looks ahead toward 2013 with its foot on the accelerator. A re-entry into the Express Scripts pharmacy provider network, a new loyalty card and synergies borne out of the Alliance Boots partnership will all help fuel Walgreens' health-and-wellness engine. 

Walgreens stock was up slightly within the half-hour of the call to approximately $36.70 per share. WAG had closed Thursday at $36.52 and opened Friday morning at $36.27. 

September 28, 2012
Walgreens is coming out swinging in 2013

2012 was a tough year for Walgreens. The Chicagoland retailer took a stand against a major PBM and took it on the chin. But that entire time, while the company did what it thought was right to protect the value of the services it provides today, Walgreens continued to focus on developing a better retail pharmacy experience with many new product offerings and services that is setting the stage for tomorrow.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — 2012 was a tough year for Walgreens. The Chicagoland retailer took a stand against a major PBM and took it on the chin. But that entire time, while the company did what it thought was right to protect the value of the services it provides today, Walgreens continued to focus on developing a better retail pharmacy experience with many new product offerings and services that is setting the stage for tomorrow. Well Experience and flagship stores. Pharmacists practicing at the top of their license. Health ambassadors in the aisle. Fresh.

September 27, 2012
CVS Caremark survey: Pharmacists say cost is biggest barrier to Rx adherence

In recognition of American Pharmacists Month in October, CVS Caremark released results from a new survey of CVS retail pharmacists, which underscored that cost remains a key barrier to medication adherence and reinforced the important role of the pharmacist in helping people take their chronic medications as directed.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — In recognition of American Pharmacists Month in October, CVS Caremark released results from a new survey of CVS retail pharmacists, which underscored that cost remains a key barrier to medication adherence and reinforced the important role of the pharmacist in helping people take their chronic medications as directed.

September 27, 2012
Survey: More and more pharmacy patients can't get satisfaction through mail order

Satisfaction among customers using mail-order pharmacies to fill their prescriptions continued to decline, falling significantly below customer satisfaction with brick-and-mortar pharmacies, according to the J.D. Power and Associates "2012 U.S. Pharmacy Study" released Thursday.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Satisfaction among customers using mail-order pharmacies to fill their prescriptions continued to decline, falling significantly below customer satisfaction with brick-and-mortar pharmacies, according to the J.D. Power and Associates "2012 U.S. Pharmacy Study" released Thursday.

September 24, 2012
Study: Retail health clinics, urgent care centers a $10B market and growing

The retail health clinic and urgent care center market currently is worth about $10 billion and is poised for strong growth in the coming years as the shortage of primary care physicians and crowded emergency rooms increasingly move patients to retail sites, according to new data by Marketdata Enterprises, an independent market research publisher.

TAMPA, Fla. — The retail health clinic and urgent care center market currently is worth about $10 billion and is poised for strong growth in the coming years as the shortage of primary care physicians and crowded emergency rooms increasingly move patients to retail sites, according to new data by Marketdata Enterprises, an independent market research publisher.

September 21, 2012
Got mobile? Shifting consumer behavior is 'too large for retailers to ignore'

Once again, mobile capabilities made headlines as a study by ComScore revealed that nearly 86 million Americans are now shopping on their smartphones. To put it another way: That’s 4-out-of-5 smartphone users.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Once again, mobile capabilities made headlines as a study by ComScore revealed that nearly 86 million Americans are now shopping on their smartphones. To put it another way: That’s 4-out-of-5 smartphone users.

(THE NEWS: Survey: 4-out-of-5 smartphone users access retail content. For the full story, click here.)

September 21, 2012
Rite Aid's turnaround seeds show signs of growth

The general consensus seems to be that the turnaround that the country's third-largest retail pharmacy chain has engineered over the past few years is working.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The general consensus seems to be that the turnaround that the country's third-largest retail pharmacy chain has engineered over the past few years is working.

(THE NEWS: Rite Aid looks to retain ESI patients, provide 'superior customer experience.' For the full story, click here.)

September 21, 2012
Walmart/Humana: 21st century retailing grounded in 18th century economics

"It is not from the benevolence of the patient, the pharmacist or the payer that we expect our better health, but from their regard to their own self interest." While the somewhat-modified quote is ascribable to Adam Smith, an 18th-century economist credited with the invisible hand theory, the principle holds true.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — "It is not from the benevolence of the patient, the pharmacist or the payer that we expect our better health, but from their regard to their own self interest." While the somewhat-modified quote is ascribable to Adam Smith, an 18th-century economist credited with the invisible hand theory, the principle holds true: Solutions developed as a part of commerce are both more efficient and more sustainable because they benefit all involved.

September 20, 2012
Rite Aid looks to retain ESI patients, provide 'superior customer experience'

With the dispute between Walgreens and Express Scripts over, one of the biggest challenges for Rite Aid will be retaining the customers it won over during the impasse.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — With the dispute between Walgreens and Express Scripts over, one of the biggest challenges for Rite Aid will be retaining the customers it won over during the impasse.

That was the biggest message during a conference call between Rite Aid executives and Wall Street analysts Thursday morning as the company announced its second quarter 2013 results.

September 20, 2012
Survey: 4-out-of-5 smartphone users access retail content

Four-out-of-every-5 smartphone users — 85.9 million people — accessed retail content on their device in July, according to a study by ComScore.

RESTON, Va. — Four-out-of-every-5 smartphone users — 85.9 million people — accessed retail content on their device in July, according to a study by ComScore.

Amazon led as the top retailer with an audience of 49.6 million visitors, representing 46.6% of smartphone owners, followed by eBay with 32.6 million visitors and Apple with 17.7 million visitors. Walmart had the largest reach among traditional brick-and-mortar retailers with 16.3 million visitors, followed by Target with 10 million visitors and Best Buy with 7.2 million smartphone visitors.

September 19, 2012
Walmart forges new pathway to wellness, challenges others to follow

Walmart is hoping to blaze a bold new trail down the path toward wellness in its healthy food discount partnership with HumanaVitality announced this morning, and the global retailer has challenged others to follow.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is hoping to blaze a bold new trail down the path toward wellness in its healthy food discount partnership with HumanaVitality announced this morning, and the global retailer has challenged others to follow. 

September 14, 2012
CMS competitive bidding program: Reducing healthcare cost through subtraction of care

It's counterintuitive. The durable medical equipment competitive bidding program is supposed to reduce the cost of care, but in fact — across many rural communities — it may end up serving as a barrier to the access of that care.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — It's counterintuitive. The durable medical equipment competitive bidding program is supposed to reduce the cost of care, but in fact — across many rural communities — it may end up serving as a barrier to the access of that care. Though truth be told, in the end it will succeed in reducing the overall cost of care in much the same way the cost of sugarcane would be reduced in a sugar-free zone. If you can't access the care, you can't pay for it and, consequently, the cost of that care is less expensive.