Content about Insights and Perspectives

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Though Drug Store News is a leader among trade publications for the retail pharmacy industry, its readership remains small compared with the consumer magazines one typically finds on a store shelf, thus keeping its wealth of news and analysis confined to a limited audience. But the publication of an article in The New York Times brings to nationwide attention an issue of critical importance that frequently receives play in this magazine’s pages: medication adherence.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Independent pharmacy clearly has found its voice.

(THE NEWS: Indie pharmacy applauds move in Congress to end aggressive Part B recoupment efforts. For the full story, click here)

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Change in America often happens slowly due to the country’s large size and the relative autonomy of its states -- usually starting in a handful of states or cities and eventually extending across the country.

(THE NEWS: Pennsylvania boosts pharmacists’ role; NACDS hails bid for collaborative. For the full story, click here)

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Now, it’s up to the doctors.

(THE NEWS: DEA allows controlled drug e-prescribing, handing pharmacy advocates a key victory. For the full story, click here)

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The news that Target is looking to expand its retail-based clinic business this year is yet one more indicator that reports of the demise of retail clinic growth have been greatly exaggerated.

(THE NEWS: Target to expand its retail clinic presence. For the full story, click here)

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT More and more, the local food-drug supermarket-pharmacy combo is on the front line of the nation’s epic battle against the roaring diabetes epidemic. And given the natural alliance between pharmacy-based health-and-wellness programs on the one hand, and a well-conceived, nutritionally sound program in the food aisles for diabetics and other customers with special health concerns on the other, it’s a fitting place to wage such a fight.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The launch of CVS Caremark's Pharmacy Advisor program is important on several fronts; not only does it further strengthen the company's foothold on the frontlines of health care and help curb healthcare costs (in this case targeting patients with diabetes), but it also serves as yet another indicator of the importance and benefit of the company's vertically integrated pharmacy-PBM model.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT Seven million vaccinations is a lot of flu shots. And if you’ll pardon the pun, it was more than enough to put Walgreens at the sticking point of the nation’s inoculation campaign against the H1N1 virus.

(THE NEWS: Walgreens tapped for national award for its flu vaccination efforts. For the full story, click here)

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The news that pharmacists believe that most consumers buy over-the-counter products that were recommended by them further demonstrates the significant role that pharmacists play in the U.S. healthcare system.

(THE NEWS: APhA survey: Pharmacists recommend over-the-counter products to consumers. For the full story, click here)

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Duane Reade’s sale to Walgreens means a lot of things, but one thing that won’t happen is that it will lose the unique identity that the chain has carved out in its hometown of New York, which allowed it to set itself apart from other retail pharmacies in the area. And in the process, Duane Reade is helping to redefine what a retail pharmacy can do and be.

(THE NEWS: Duane Reade teams up with JagTag. For the full story, click here)

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The news that Helena Foulkes will lead PBM product innovation and marketing at CVS Caremark is important, as Foulkes, the ExtraCare architect, is widely regarded as one of the most visionary marketers in modern drug store retailing.

(THE NEWS: Foulkes to lead PBM product innovation, marketing at CVS Caremark. For the full story, click here)

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Underscoring the vital role that pharmacists play in the U.S. healthcare system are the findings of the recent CVS Caremark study, which found many patients believe that their specialty pharmacy team plays an important role in medication adherence. There's a $300 billion reason why this is important.