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WOONSOCKET, R.I. — In an effort to make it easy for customers to safely dispose of their unused, expired or unwanted medications, and help battle the estimated 200 million lbs. of unwanted medications improperly disposed every year, CVS/pharmacy now is offering Sharps Compliance’s Environmental Return System in all of its 7,200 locations.

NEW YORK — Mandatory mail seems to cause some patients to prematurely discontinue therapy, especially among those patients without previous mail-service pharmacy experience. At least, that’s what a recent study on mandatory mail suggested.

The CVS Caremark-funded study, “Adherence to Medication Under Mandatory and Voluntary Mail Benefit Designs,” recently was published in the American Journal of Managed Care.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy officially has announced the launch of its exclusive beauty collection, Nuance Salma Hayek, developed in partnership with actress Salma Hayek.

The collection is comprised of more than 100 products within four categories — skin care, cosmetics, hair care and body — and is available only at CVS/pharmacy locations nationwide and online at CVS.com/NuanceSalmaHayek. Prices range between $2.99 and $19.99.

The news that MinuteClinic has surpassed 10 million patient visits is important because the pace at which these milestones are occurring speaks volumes to the increased patient acceptance.

(THE NEWS: MinuteClinic surpasses 10 millionth patient visit mark. For the full story, click here.)

FLINT, Mich. — Hetty Lima has been tapped to serve as Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy's VP specialty infusion services, the company announced this week.

In her new role, Lima will will be responsible for leading the sales and operations for Diplomat’s specialty infused product lines, including the national nursing network.

Lima, a 27-year industry veteran, served in various executive-level positions at such companies as Baxter Healthcare, CVS Caremark’s specialty pharmacy division and Coram’s Hemophilia Services division.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark is gearing up for flu season and will leverage both its CVS/pharmacy locations and MinuteClinic sites to provide flu shots for patients every day, including evenings and weekends, and will offer direct medical billing to many national and regional health plans that will cover all or part of the cost of a flu shot.

CHICAGO — CVS Caremark, through its All Kids Can program, has partnered with Easter Seals over the past six years to support children at risk of autism, developmental delays or disabilities. CVS Caremark is continuing its support by investing in Easter Seals' Make the First Five Count initiative to help assure children receive critical early intervention services.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark's board of directors has approved a quarterly dividend of 12.5 cents per share.

The dividend is payable Aug. 2 to holders of record on July 22, the company noted.

CVS Caremark will launch a pilot of a 
real-time, integrated electronic prior authorization capability, available to its pharmacy benefit management clients, to help speed access to prescription medications.



PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The National Consumers League recently launched the Script Your Future initiative to raise awareness among patients about the impact of not taking their medications as prescribed, and now the first-of-its-kind campaign is kicking off in several markets around the country.


Script Your Future is an important initiative, as 3-out-of-4 Americans fail to take their medications as prescribed by their doctors. This equates to an estimated $290 billion drain on the U.S. healthcare system each year — costs that are avoidable.


NEW YORK — Moody's Investors Service compared the three largest pharmacy benefit managers — CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions — in a report issued Tuesday. While it maintained a positive view of all three, it gave CVS Caremark the highest credit rating.

"CVS Caremark has the highest credit rating of the three companies and is the only one with a retail pharmacy business, providing it with size and diversity that offset financial metrics that are weaker than the company's PBM peers," the report stated.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark has donated approximately $40,000 in monetary and in-kind donations to support residents of Joplin, Mo., including some of the company's pharmacy benefit manager clients and their members who were impacted by the recent tornado, the company announced on Friday.

CVS Caremark and CVS/pharmacy colleagues in the region collected and donated first aid and personal care supplies valued at approximately $35,000 to local relief efforts in Joplin. In addition, CVS Caremark has made a $5,000 donation to the American Red Cross.