Content about Virginia

May 22, 2013
CMS decision on diabetes-testing supplies would disrupt care, members of Congress say

Several members of Congress are requesting that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reverse a decision to prohibit independent pharmacies from delivering diabetes-testing supplies to homebound seniors.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Several members of Congress are requesting that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reverse a decision to prohibit independent pharmacies from delivering diabetes-testing supplies to homebound seniors.

May 21, 2013
NACDS submits statements for Senate, House hearings advocating Medicare enhancements

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has announced that, in written statements submitted for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives committee hearings this week, it noted the essential role of community pharmacy in the success of the 10-year-old Medicare Part D prescription drug program and urged program enhancements focused on the quality and affordability of care.



ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has announced that, in written statements submitted for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives committee hearings this week, it noted the essential role of community pharmacy in the success of the 10-year-old Medicare Part D prescription drug program and urged program enhancements focused on the quality and affordability of care.



May 21, 2013
RxAlly white paper touts 'personalized pharmacist care'

The prevalence of chronic diseases, increased demand for patient care and failure of many patients to take their medications as prescribed calls for an increased role in the healthcare system for pharmacists, according to a national organization of pharmacies.

LEESBURG, Va. — The prevalence of chronic diseases, increased demand for patient care and failure of many patients to take their medications as prescribed calls for an increased role in the healthcare system for pharmacists, according to a national organization of pharmacies.

May 16, 2013
Revamped Food Lion stores to include cheaper private labels, fresher produce

Food Lion has revamped 178 of its stores and hired 800 new employees, the Delhaize Group-owned supermarket chain said.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion has revamped 178 of its stores and hired 800 new employees, the Delhaize Group-owned supermarket chain said.

The company said the stores would offer an improved shopping experience — such as faster checkout service — fresher produce through the "Fresh from the Field" initiative and cheaper private label products. The changes were made to stores in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

May 16, 2013
Senate confirms Marilyn Tavenner as CMS administrator

The Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm a former Virginia Health and Human Services secretary as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm a former Virginia Health and Human Services secretary as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Members of the Senate voted 91-7 in favor of confirming Marilyn Tavenner to lead CMS, drawing praise from a retail pharmacy trade group.

May 15, 2013
Committee advances bill to secure pharmaceutical supply chain

A federal drug track-and-trace bill has made it out of a congressional committee.

ARLINGTON, Va. — A federal drug track-and-trace bill has made it out of a congressional committee.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to approve H.R. 1919, the Safeguarding America's Pharmaceuticals Act of 2013, sponsored by Reps. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, and Jim Matheson, D-Utah.

May 13, 2013
Hillary Clinton to speak at Total Store Expo

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton will speak at one of the morning business sessions of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' Total Store Expo in August, the trade group said.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton will speak at one of the morning business sessions of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' Total Store Expo in August, the trade group said Monday.

Clinton, who served as state secretary from 2009 until earlier this year, will speak during the Aug. 12 program. TSE, which will combine the Pharmacy and Technology, Marketplace and Supply Chain and Logistics conferences, will take place in Las Vegas.

May 10, 2013
NCPA, McKesson to host three-day pharmacy ownership seminar

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Thursday announced it will host its NCPA Ownership Workshop from May 17 to 19 at the Seattle Airport Marriott.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Thursday announced it will host its NCPA Ownership Workshop from May 17 to 19 at the Seattle Airport Marriott. The Ownership Workshop, sponsored by McKesson and in part by Pharmacists Mutual and Live Oak Bank, gives prospective and current pharmacy owners an in-depth look at the industry and the financial, management and marketing skills needed to operate a successful pharmacy business. The three-day session also offers pharmacists 20 hours of continuing education credits.

May 9, 2013
NCPA favors Medicare Prescription Drug Program Integrity and Transparency Act

Bipartisan legislation that would let pharmacists devote more time to Medicare beneficiaries and less to adjudicating claims with pharmacy benefit management firms was introduced in the U.S. Senate and won the backing of the National Community Pharmacists Association earlier this week.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Bipartisan legislation that would let pharmacists devote more time to Medicare beneficiaries and less to adjudicating claims with pharmacy benefit management firms was introduced in the U.S. Senate and won the backing of the National Community Pharmacists Association earlier this week.

May 8, 2013
Independent pharmacists conduct more than 500 meetings with legislators on the Hill

More than 300 independent community pharmacists from across the country met in Washington, D.C., at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill Wednesday for the 2013 National Community Pharmacists Association Conference on Legislation and Government Affairs.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  — More than 300 independent community pharmacists from across the country met in Washington, D.C., at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill Wednesday for the 2013 National Community Pharmacists Association Conference on Legislation and Government Affairs. The pharmacists conducted more than 500 meetings with congressional offices.

May 7, 2013
NCPA highlights Taxpayers Protection Alliance report criticizing mail-order pharmacy

Federal prescription drug programs are more susceptible to waste, fraud and abuse because of the lack of transparency and oversight of mail-order pharmacy, proclaimed the Taxpayers Protection Alliance on Tuesday in a report called “The Expensive Truth Behind Taxpayer-Funded Mail Order Pharmaceuticals.”

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Federal prescription drug programs are more susceptible to waste, fraud and abuse because of the lack of transparency and oversight of mail-order pharmacy, proclaimed the Taxpayers Protection Alliance on Tuesday in a report called “The Expensive Truth Behind Taxpayer-Funded Mail Order Pharmaceuticals.” 

May 3, 2013
NCPA lobbies Hawaii governor to sign two 'pharmacy-friendly' pieces of legislation

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Thursday urged Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie to sign two bills into law that the association asserts will "protect patient pharmacy choice."

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Thursday urged Hawaii Gov.

May 2, 2013
NACDS joins 'Partnership for Advancing Medication Adherence'

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has announced its membership in “Prescriptions for a Healthy America: A Partnership for Advancing Medication Adherence."

ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has announced its membership in “Prescriptions for a Healthy America: A Partnership for Advancing Medication Adherence."

May 2, 2013
RxResults picks Mirixa for MTM program

A company that manages pharmacy services for employer groups and health plans has selected a company founded by the National Community Pharmacists Association for its medication therapy management services.

RESTON, Va. — A company that manages pharmacy services for employer groups and health plans has selected a company founded by the National Community Pharmacists Association for its medication therapy management services.

RxResults said it had chosen Mirixa Corp.'s MirixaPro platform to administer MTM services for members of its employer groups. The services will include a person-to-person comprehensive medication review and quarterly interactive follow-up medication reviews delivered by a pharmacist using the platform.

April 23, 2013
Twelve pharmacy schools receive more than $200,000 in money for scholarships

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores' charitable arm has awarded $230,000 in scholarships to pharmacy students, the organization said.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores' charitable arm has awarded $230,000 in scholarships to pharmacy students, the organization said Tuesday.

The NACDS Foundation said it gave awards ranging from $10,000 to $40,000 to pharmacy schools' scholarship funds through its Pharmacy Partners Scholarship Program. The awards will provide financial assistance to students working toward doctor of pharmacy degrees.

April 22, 2013
NACDS Foundation announces five new board members

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation announced the election of five new members to its board of directors.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Today, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation announced the election of five new members to its board of directors. Victor Curtis, SVP pharmacy of Costco Wholesale; Jon Giacomin, president of U.S. pharmaceutical distribution for the pharmaceutical group of Cardinal Health; John Poulin, director of professional relations of Lilly USA; Todd Tillemans, president of customer development at Unilever; and Richard Tremonte, VP sales and marketing of the U.S.

April 19, 2013
Bill Clinton to speak at NCPA show in October

Former president Bill Clinton will address the National Community Pharmacists Association's exposition in Orlando, Fla., this October, the group said.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Former president Bill Clinton will address the National Community Pharmacists Association's exposition in Orlando, Fla., this October, the group said Friday.

The NCPA's 115th Annual Convention and Trade Exposition will take place Oct. 12-16 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.

April 15, 2013
N.D. governor signs PBM bill into law

The governor of North Dakota has signed into law a bill that would require pharmacy benefit managers to inform pharmacies about how reimbursement for generic prescription drugs is calculated under maximum allowable cost benchmarks and provide a more detailed appeals process to pharmacies to contest the MAC reimbursement caps that PBMs set up.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The governor of North Dakota has signed into law a bill that would require pharmacy benefit managers to inform pharmacies about how reimbursement for generic prescription drugs is calculated under maximum allowable cost benchmarks and provide a more detailed appeals process to pharmacies to contest the MAC reimbursement caps that PBMs set up.

The bill, H.B. 1363, received unanimous support in both houses of the state's legislature, and Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed it into law Monday.

April 12, 2013
NACDS, NCPA oppose pursuing new Medicaid cuts, urge completion of current rulemaking

A proposal to further reduce Medicaid drug reimbursement that was included in President Obama’s fiscal year 2014 budget plan is “premature” and federal Medicaid officials should focus on modifying and completing already proposed regulations to set future federal upper limits for reimbursement of most generic drugs, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association said.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A proposal to further reduce Medicaid drug reimbursement that was included in President Obama’s fiscal year 2014 budget plan is “premature” and federal Medicaid officials should focus on modifying and completing already proposed regulations to set future federal upper limits for reimbursement of most generic drugs, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association argued on Friday.

April 10, 2013
Drug take-back events scheduled for 35 Giant-Carlisle stores

Thirty-five Giant Food Stores and Martin's Food Markets stores in Pennsylvania and Virginia will sponsor drug take-back events later this month.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Thirty-five Giant Food Stores and Martin's Food Markets stores in Pennsylvania and Virginia will sponsor drug take-back events later this month.

The chains, which collectively comprise Ahold USA's Giant-Carlisle banner, will sponsor the events on April 27, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Patients can bring expired and unwanted medications, which will be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner for free.

April 10, 2013
Maryland state legislature shelves biosimilars legislation

Legislation designed to limit the use of biosimilars has met defeat in Maryland.

WASHINGTON — Legislation designed to limit the use of biosimilars has met defeat in Maryland.

April 9, 2013
Americans consider addiction a greater problem than chronic pain, poll shows

A majority of Americans say chronic pain ranks far below drug addiction as a major health problem, according to a new poll.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A majority of Americans say chronic pain ranks far below drug addiction as a major health problem, according to a new poll.

April 3, 2013
NCPA responds to CMS call letter

The recent call letter released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services addresses issues that can have an adverse effect on the program's cost and quality of care, a trade group representing independent retail pharmacies said Wednesday.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The recent call letter released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services addresses issues that can have an adverse effect on the program's cost and quality of care, a trade group representing independent retail pharmacies said Wednesday.

Commenting on the CMS' announcement, the National Community Pharmacists Association said it had prepared a detailed list for its members.

April 3, 2013
Weis Markets names new marketing director, announces promotions

Weis Markets on Wednesday announced that Gretchen Suydan has joined the central Pennsylvania grocer as director of marketing. The company announced the promotions of Brian Bosworth to sales director and Maria Panko to private brands manager.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets on Wednesday announced that Gretchen Suydan has joined the central Pennsylvania grocer as director of marketing. The company announced the promotions of Brian Bosworth to sales director and Maria Panko to private brands manager.

March 26, 2013
Martin's donated more than $2.2 million to Va. charities in 2012

Martin's Food Markets donated more than $2.2 million in the Richmond and Williamsburg, Va., areas in 2012 as part of its "Living Here, Giving Here" charitable program, the supermarket chain said.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Martin's Food Markets donated more than $2.2 million in the Richmond and Williamsburg, Va., areas in 2012 as part of its "Living Here, Giving Here" charitable program, the supermarket chain said.

Martin's, part of Ahold USA's Giant-Carlisle chain, said the donations broke a record. The money will go to hunger-relief, animal welfare and poverty relief groups, schools, the United Way, USO of Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia and others.