Content about Virginia

June 1, 2012
NCPA pinpoints three regulations that inhibit job growth among independents

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Friday identified three problematic regulations that inhibit job creation.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Friday identified three problematic regulations that inhibit job creation.

The Medicare Part B diabetes testing supplies competitive bidding program threatens patient access to these medical necessities, the association noted, and the 340B Drug Discount program also represents a challenge to community pharmacy due to its loose eligibility criteria. Lastly, job creation can be inhibited by the fee-for-service Medicare enrollment/revalidation fees that many pharmacies have to pay twice.

June 1, 2012
Pharmacy groups oppose hydrocodone amendment to PDUFA bill

Five pharmacy organizations on Thursday wrote Congress in opposition of an amendment to the Food and Drug Administration Safety Innovation Act due to its potential to delay patients' timely relief from chronic pain while increasing drug costs.

ALEXANDRIA,Va. — Five pharmacy organizations on Thursday wrote Congress in opposition of an amendment to the Food and Drug Administration Safety Innovation Act due to its potential to delay patients' timely relief from chronic pain while increasing drug costs.
 

May 31, 2012
NACDS launches 2012 Marketplace Conference mobile app

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has officially launched its 2012 Marketplace Conference mobile application.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has officially launched its 2012 Marketplace Conference mobile application.

The mobile app, which is sponsored by the Emerson Group, offers a toolkit for conference attendees to enhance planning and the overall experience for the NACDS Marketplace Conference. This year’s NACDS Marketplace Conference will be held June 23 to 26 in Denver.

May 29, 2012
Dollar Tree to split common stock 2-to-1

Dollar Tree on Tuesday approved a 2-for-1 stock split in the form of a 100% common stock dividend. The new shares will be distributed June 26 for shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 12.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Dollar Tree on Tuesday approved a 2-for-1 stock split in the form of a 100% common stock dividend. The new shares will be distributed June 26 for shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 12.

With the stock split, the number of outstanding shares of the company's common stock will increase from approximately 116 million shares, pre-split, to approximately 232 million shares, post-split.

May 29, 2012
House to consider repealing prescription mandate on OTCs purchased through FSAs

The House of Representatives will vote to repeal limitations on the use of tax-advantaged accounts for the purchase of over-the-counter medications as early as June 4, according to a report published online by The Hill, a Washington, D.C.-based political newspaper.

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives will vote to repeal limitations on the use of tax-advantaged accounts for the purchase of over-the-counter medications as early as June 4, according to a report published online by The Hill, a Washington, D.C.-based political newspaper.

The paper cited a planning memo from majority leader Eric Cantor, R-Va.

May 24, 2012
NACDS lauds prevention of 'personal importation' of prescription medications

Following the Senate’s defeat of a proposal that would have permitted “personal importation” of prescription drug medications, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores lauded the Senate’s decision to support patient safety.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Following the Senate’s defeat of a proposal that would have permitted “personal importation” of prescription drug medications, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores lauded the Senate’s decision to support patient safety.

May 24, 2012
NACDS praises enactment of PBM audit legislation in Vermont

Legislation enacted in the state of Vermont, which establishes standards in the pharmacy audit process conducted by pharmacy benefit managers, has been applauded by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Legislation enacted in the state of Vermont, which establishes standards in the pharmacy audit process conducted by pharmacy benefit managers, has been applauded by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

May 23, 2012
NACDS maintains message to Capitol Hill on value of community pharmacy

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced on Wednesday that, for the second time over the course of one week, it has engaged with a congressional committee to tell the story of community pharmacy’s value in improving patient health and reducing costs, and it has submitted a statement to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance for the hearing Wednesday titled “Progress in Healthcare Delivery: Innovations from the Field.”

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced on Wednesday that, for the second time over the course of one week, it has engaged with a congressional committee to tell the story of community pharmacy’s value in improving patient health and reducing costs, and it has submitted a statement to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance for the hearing Wednesday titled “Progress in Healthcare Delivery: Innovations from the Field.”

May 23, 2012
NCPA addresses adverse consequences regarding latest FUL guidance

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Monday drafted a letter to the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services regarding the latest federal upper limit guidelines that the association characterizes as "getting worse with regard to the negative economic impact [to community pharmacies], not better."

ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Monday drafted a letter to the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services regarding the latest federal upper limit guidelines that the association characterizes as "getting worse with regard to the negative economic impact [to community pharmacies], not better."

May 23, 2012
Walgreens hosts live Twitter chat around its new REDI program

Walgreens on Wednesday afternoon hosted a live chat on Twitter regarding its newly launched national Retail Employees with Disabilities Initiative, an in-store training program designed to help people with disabilities gain retail employment, and how that program soon will expand.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday afternoon hosted a live chat on Twitter regarding its newly launched national Retail Employees with Disabilities Initiative, an in-store training program designed to help people with disabilities gain retail employment, and how that program soon will expand.

May 17, 2012
Target Clinic to open locations in Virginia, North Carolina

Target has announced its plans to open new Target Clinic locations at four Target stores in northern Virginia and four Target stores in North Carolina, marking the first Target Clinics to open in these states.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has announced its plans to open new Target Clinic locations at four Target stores in northern Virginia and four Target stores in North Carolina, marking the first Target Clinics to open in these states.

The new clinics currently are under construction and will open on July 29.

May 16, 2012
More than one-third of dispensed prescriptions sent electronically in 2011, report finds

The number of prescriptions being sent electronically jumped by 75% between 2010 and 2011, while almost all of the retail pharmacies in the country are connected for e-prescribing, according to a new report by the country's largest e-prescribing network.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The number of prescriptions being sent electronically jumped by 75% between 2010 and 2011, while almost all of the retail pharmacies in the country are connected for e-prescribing, according to a new report by the country's largest e-prescribing network.

May 16, 2012
NACDS emphasizes to Senate committee value of community pharmacy

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has emphasized the commitment of NACDS and the chain pharmacy industry to partner with policy-makers and others to improve quality and lower costs in the healthcare delivery system in a statement sent to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has emphasized the commitment of NACDS and the chain pharmacy industry to partner with policy-makers and others to improve quality and lower costs in the healthcare delivery system in a statement sent to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, NACDS announced on Tuesday.

May 16, 2012
NACDS lauds studies showing pharmacists are critical in team-based healthcare delivery

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores lauded recommendations released by the Community Preventive Services Task Force illustrating that team-based care can improve blood-pressure control for patients.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores lauded recommendations released by the Community Preventive Services Task Force illustrating that team-based care can improve blood-pressure control for patients.

The studies, which specifically cited pharmacists as critical in the team-based approach to patient care, emphasized the importance of collaboration among healthcare professionals in ensuring improved patient care.

May 15, 2012
AACP, NCPA announce Innovative Medication Adherence Educators Challenge winners

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the National Community Pharmacists Association announced the winners of a competition designed to highlight the best practices in medication adherence teaching among the nation's 127 colleges and schools of pharmacy.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the National Community Pharmacists Association announced the winners of a competition designed to highlight the best practices in medication adherence teaching among the nation's 127 colleges and schools of pharmacy.

May 11, 2012
NACDS applauds enactment of Alabama PBM audit legislation

A law that will establish standards in the pharmacy audit process conducted by pharmacy benefit managers in the state of Alabama has received the applause of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A law that will establish standards in the pharmacy audit process conducted by pharmacy benefit managers in the state of Alabama has received the applause of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

May 10, 2012
ComScore: Q1 online retail spending rose 17%

ComScore reported that online retail spending reached $44.3 billion for first quarter 2012, up 17% from the year-ago period.

RESTON, Va. — ComScore reported that online retail spending reached $44.3 billion for first quarter 2012, up 17% from the year-ago period.

ComScore said retail e-commerce sale estimates represented the tenth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Additional findings included:

  • 48.8% of e-commerce transactions included free shipping, the highest percentage for a quarter on record outside of the holiday season;

May 10, 2012
RxAlly expands to include more than 2,000 pharmacies

RxAlly has expanded its national network to include nine independent pharmacy organizations and 10 regional chains.

LEESBURG, Va. — RxAlly has expanded its national network to include nine independent pharmacy organizations and 10 regional chains.

RxAlly, which launched a little less than three months ago, has grown its membership by more than 2,000 pharmacies totaling over 22,000.

May 9, 2012
NACDS urges congressional panel to preserve DME exemption for retail pharmacy

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced on Wednesday that it has submitted comments to the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health urging that retail pharmacies remain exempt from the Medicare durable medical equipment competitive bidding program.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced on Wednesday that it has submitted comments to the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health urging that retail pharmacies remain exempt from the Medicare durable medical equipment competitive bidding program. The subcommittee held a hearing regarding the program on Wednesday.

May 9, 2012
NCPA ends Legislative Conference with congressional rally

The National Community Pharmacists Association wrapped up its three-day NCPA Legislative Conference Wednesday with a rally, the association announced.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association wrapped up its three-day NCPA Legislative Conference Wednesday with a rally, the association announced.

May 7, 2012
NACDS expresses to FDA cautious optimism on the 'new paradigm' for third class of drugs

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores submitted on Monday comments to the Food and Drug Administration regarding its position on the “new paradigm” for a third class of drugs.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores submitted on Monday comments to the Food and Drug Administration regarding its position on the “new paradigm” for a third class of drugs.

The comments were submitted to the FDA in conjunction with the agency’s hearing titled, “Using Innovative Technologies and Other Conditions of Safe Use to Expand Which Drug Products Can Be Considered Nonprescription.”

May 7, 2012
NACDS, NCPA urge Senate, House committees to preserve patient choice for Tricare beneficiaries

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association today expressed concerns in a letter sent to Senate Armed Services Committee and House Armed Services Committee leaders over the potential impact of the administration’s fiscal year 2013 budget on Tricare beneficiaries and community pharmacy.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association today expressed concerns in a letter sent to Senate Armed Services Committee and House Armed Services Committee leaders over the potential impact of the administration’s fiscal year 2013 budget on Tricare beneficiaries and community pharmacy.

May 4, 2012
E-prescribing up by 75% in 2011, Surescripts says

More than one-third of prescriptions were sent electronically in 2011, the country's largest e-prescribing network said.

ARLINGTON, Va. — More than one-third of prescriptions were sent electronically in 2011, the country's largest e-prescribing network said.

Surescripts issued an executive summary of its annual e-prescribing progress report Thursday showing that 570 million prescriptions, or 36% of the total, were sent electronically, a 75% increase over 2010's 326 million. In addition, 317,000 office-based physicians, or 58%, were e-prescribing, compared with 1-in-10 three years ago.

May 3, 2012
United Way recognizes Publix for philanthropy

On Wednesday evening, United Way recognized Publix Super Markets with two Summit awards for philanthropic engagement and community impact, the two companies announced Thursday.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — On Wednesday evening, United Way recognized Publix Super Markets with two Summit awards for philanthropic engagement and community impact, the two companies announced Thursday.

Publix's 2011 United Way campaign raised $45.6 million — a 12% increase over 2010 — plus associates' per capita gifts exceeded the food industry average by 398%. Publix associates also volunteered 900,000 hours, including more than 1,500 associates serving on United Way and nonprofit boards.

April 27, 2012
NACDS announces support of enactment of Minnesota PBM audit legislation

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has expressed its support for enactment of the Pharmacy Audit Integrity Program, a law that will establish standards in the pharmacy audit process conducted by pharmacy benefit management companies in the state of Minnesota.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has expressed its support for enactment of the Pharmacy Audit Integrity Program (HF 1236/SF 973) by Minnesota governor Mark Dayton. The law will establish standards in the pharmacy audit process conducted by pharmacy benefit management companies in the state of Minnesota.

NACDS sent a letter of support to Dayton prior to enactment, emphasizing the importance of this legislation in ensuring transparency in the PBM audit process.