CVS

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Representatives of the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, a private foundation created by CVS Caremark, kicked off a "Day of Giving" on Tuesday by surprising several nonprofits with the grant funding they had requested.

The visits, hosted by several of the company's executives, were timed to coincide with the announcement that $4.3 million has been awarded in grants to 98 nonprofit organizations across the country in 2011, which includes multiyear grants from previous years.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark has announced the appointment of Larry Burton as SVP government affairs, effective Feb. 27, bringing more than 30 years of experience in strategy development, public policy and government affairs to the company.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has introduced a program that allows pharmacy patients to receive immediate notification via text message when their prescription is ready to be picked up, the drug store chain said.

Order Ready Text Messaging, which is available on nearly all mobile carriers, offers text alerts in English and Spanish. Customers interest in enrolling into Order Ready Text Messaging can do so by speaking to a pharmacy staff member or visiting CVS.com/text. Standard message rates apply.

Will the merger of Express Scripts and Medco go through? Not if pharmacy lobbyists can stop it. There’s nothing new about the fact that different industry groups connected with retail pharmacy or health care can hold strongly opposing views about what’s good or profitable for their own members. But for undisguised hostility and tit-for-tat charges and countercharges, nothing comes close to the long-running feud between independent pharmacy and the pharmacy benefits management industry.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — With at least a dozen states reporting confirmed cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, during the first three weeks of January, MinuteClinic is urging parents and guardians to obtain a DTaP shot (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) for unvaccinated children under 7 years old.  Booster shots, known as Tdap, also are encouraged for all pre-teens, teens and adults.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund announced on Tuesday that it has awarded CVS Caremark a three-year contract to provide prescription drug benefits to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania employees, retirees and dependents, beginning July 1.

The PEBTF account will be serviced from the CVS Caremark mail order pharmacy in Wilkes Barre, Pa., the specialty pharmacy in Monroeville, Pa., and the customer service center in Monroeville, Pa.

Candy is a powerhouse category for the drug channel. Candy and gum represent more than 6% of center-store sales, according to the National Confectioners Association, and contribute $3 billion annually to the channel.

Chocolate, which has been a strong category, is experiencing sales deceleration since manufacturers and retailers have passed higher production costs onto consumers.

CVS Caremark is reinventing pharmacy and unlocking the full potential of its distinctive model. The company is doing this by capitalizing on what Larry Merlo, president and CEO, has referred to as “integration sweet spots,” which are capabilities unique to CVS Caremark’s integrated model. In this issue of DSN, we explore what we believe are 10 keys to driving growth across CVS' network and transforming the retail health landscape.