NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill showcased the unsurpassed value of community pharmacy as pharmacy advocates from 41 states conducted more than 350 meetings with U.S. senators and representatives this week.

In January, specialty pharmacy group contracting organization Armada Health Care introduced ApproveRx, a Web-based system that it says will greatly streamline the prior authorization process and already has been adopted by Amber Pharmacy. Meanwhile, the company also is gearing up for the Armada Summit at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel in May.

An organization representing independent pharmacies has joined a recently announced nationwide pharmacy network that aims to get patients to receive personalized care from their pharmacists.

American Associated Pharmacies announced that it has partnered with RxAlly, an alliance that includes more than 20,000 pharmacies nationwide that seeks to improve health and reduce costs for pharmacy patients.

According to IMS VP industry relations Doug Long, who spoke Feb. 6 at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Regional Chain Meeting on current trends and forecasts for the U.S. pharmaceutical market, specialty pharmacy dollars are growing more than 10% on a 12-month moving annual total basis. 


Specialty pharmacy company Amber Pharmacy has implemented a prior authorization system provided by Armada Health Care, Amber said.

Target on Monday announced it will seek independent pharmacists to own and operate the pharmacies in its stores in Canada.

Rite Aid has hired Wendy Barnes as group VP managed care, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

Retail pharmacy has long fought for a level playing field when competing with mail order, and that's what N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo handed them last week.

Pharmacy retail technology services company QS/1 is working with American HealthTech, a technology provider for long-term care facilities, to provide interoperability between the two.

Upon entering eRxCity on the second floor of a medical building at the corner of Mott and Canal streets in Chinatown in New York City, the store’s whole concept becomes clear from a slogan printed on the wall across from a flat-screen TV showing Hong Kong soap operas: “The next generation pharmacy.”


The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation raised more than $1.77 million for scholarships, research and charitable activities from 114 benefactors at the 13th Annual Dinner held Tuesday night in New York City.