Content about New Year's Day

BOULDER, Colo. — BackJoy and celebrity fitness trainer Ashley Borden on Monday released the “Sit Right – Stretch Right” online video program for easy-to-follow back exercises and stretches that can be done in the comfort of the office or home. 

Walgreens chief Greg Wasson had a new vision to share with the pharmacy operator's faithful shareholders for 2013. It was a vision that firmly placed the Express Scripts dispute in the rear-view mirror and refocused on the road ahead, that includes expanding the role of pharmacy and even what it means to be a U.S. pharmacy operator with its acquisition of Alliance Boots. 

WASHINGTON — New results from a national online public opinion poll of Americans 18 and older show that 34% of smokers plan to quit smoking as a New Year’s resolution in 2013, as compared to only 18% who reported that quitting smoking was a New Year’s resolution in 2012. Increasing costs of cigarettes (67%) and concerns about the health risks associated with smoking (58%) were two of the key factors motivating smokers to contemplate quitting as a resolution for 2013.

BOSTON — People making New Year's resolutions, mostly centered around health, this year say they behave more responsibly than they did five years ago compared with those not making them, according to a new survey.

The online survey, by Liberty Mutual Insurance, included more than 1,700 adults, gauging how Americans define personal responsibility and how their perception of it varies with age, marital status, gender and whether they have children.

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Ulta Beauty is helping beauty mavens ring in the New Year with resolutions designed to create healthy skin all year long.

Ulta Beauty's Top Five 2013 Skin Resolutions, combined with its Love Your Skin events across the country, are designed to make sticking to a new skin care regimen easier than ever. Ulta Beauty's annual Love Your Skin events take place through Jan. 19. Stores nationwide will focus on top skin care techniques by offering advice, live demos and tips from in-store experts, as well special daily offers.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is looking to help Americans with their New Year’s resolutions to improve their health by offering customers free extra support, including Better You informational guides in all 4,600 stores, exclusive online health resources and expert advice from Rite Aid pharmacists. Rite Aid's wellness stores will also be offering free health screenings and informational sessions the week of Jan. 13.

Each year, we say good-bye to the current year and welcome in the New Year full of hope and aspirations for a successful year ahead. Customers turn out in droves for “New Year, New You” specials and when they reach the register, the retail pharmacy world knows the scenario quite well. In a few short weeks’ time, you and your staff will be asking these all too familiar questions, “Did you have any insurance changes? Did you have a change in benefits?  Did you know your brand drug is now available in generic?” and so on.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer is bringing its summertime fuel savings program into the new year.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT —Sam's Club has made a major commitment to health and wellness, and is hosting screening events every month of the year. January was New Year, New You. This month it's heart health. Next month it's allergy screenings. In June it's men's health, which includes some pretty expensive PSA tests. Why? Sam's wants its members to know it's serious about health and wellness, and knows that these events are a good way to convert members into patients.

As we welcome a new year, it is exciting to see all the changes headed our way. With all the movement around healthcare reform and technology, we in the pharmacy industry are quick to point out that this industry is years ahead of the rest of health care in terms of payment solutions and automated workflow. The rest of the industry is running to catch up — but right now the pharmacy industry is far from where we need to be to address critical factors in our industry.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — After announcing a special discount for Express Scripts members on the annual membership fee for the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club, the drug store chain said its PSC gained nearly 125,000 customers in the first week of the new year.