Chris Krese, Author at NACDS

NACDS Lends Support to Preventive Health Savings Act Legislation provides a proactive, innovative approach to preventing chronic disease and reducing overall healthcare costs

Chris Krese2017-04-13T10:58:05-04:00Categories: Press Release|Tags: Congress|

Arlington, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) today joined the Healthcare Leadership Council and other stakeholders in a letter to Congress supporting the anticipated reintroduction of the Preventive Health Savings Act in the 115^th Congress. The legislation would keep an ongoing focus on wellness and disease prevention, leading to the improved health of Americans, while reducing healthcare costs and overall spending.

“This legislation would help to bring about this innovation by allowing projected savings to be taken into consideration when legislation is considered.”

The letter states that “the way in which the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) currently ‘scores’ legislation severely constrains the ability of policymakers to accurately assess legislation that would prevent chronic disease and promote behavioral health across the life-course.” During a time when healthcare costs are a primary concern, this legislation would be a step in the right direction toward containing costs and improving health outcomes.

“To improve Americans’ health and wellness and to improve the affordability of care, we need innovative strategies that will address chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other conditions. This legislation would help to bring about this innovation by allowing projected savings to be taken into consideration when legislation is considered,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.

Quantifying the long-term damage of unchecked chronic disease, the letter notes that those illnesses are responsible for seven out of 10 deaths among Americans each year, and they account for more than 80 percent of the $2.7 trillion our nation spends annually on medical care—statistics that will only worsen as the population ages.

The letter notes that “as the chronic disease epidemic continues to worsen,” there is an increased need for “legislation that will properly allow Congress to see the full savings of enacting prevention-focused measures.” The allied organizations lauded Congress’ continued efforts to support this kind of proactive healthcare legislation, and underscored a shared commitment to working collaboratively with Congress on public health efforts to achieve wellness and improved health among Americans.

President Obama Signs Law Including NACDS-Backed TRICARE Provisions; Focus Turns to Implementation of Pilot

Chris Krese2017-01-06T13:14:29-05:00Categories: Article|Tags: TRICARE|

With President Obama’s signature, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 became law on December 23, 2016.

Urging implementation will require a significant advocacy push, similar to that which resulted in the authorization of the pilot in the new law.

The law includes the NACDS-supported “Pilot Program for Prescription Drug Acquisition Cost Parity in the TRICARE Pharmacy Benefits Program.” If implemented as intended, the pilot could provide military families and veterans with the choice of how they get their medications and will also lower program costs.

The law also includes no new copayment increases, which also is in the interest of pharmacy choice and access for beneficiaries. Copayment increases had been requested by the Administration and were included in the Senate’s version of the legislation, but were omitted from the final House-Senate negotiated bill.

When details of the final legislation were announced on December 2, 2016, NACDS said, “This is a great day for the TRICARE program and for the military families and veterans who rely on their local pharmacies.”

NACDS now is reaching out to the Department of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget to urge implementation of the important pilot program. Urging implementation will require a significant advocacy push, similar to that which resulted in the authorization of the pilot in the new law.

Fortune Powerful Women Lists Include NACDS Chain and Associate Representatives

Chris Krese2016-09-28T11:48:14-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: NACDS|

Sixteen individuals from NACDS member companies – including chains and associates – are featured in Fortune magazine’s September 15 edition, in its lists of the most powerful women.

The U.S. “50 Most Powerful Women” list includes Indra Nooyi, CEO and Chairman, PepsiCo; Irene Rosenfeld, CEO and Chairman, Mondelez International; Helena Foulkes, President, CVS/pharmacy and EVP, CVS Health, and a member of the NACDS Board of Directors; Rosalind Brewer, CEO and President, Sam’s Club, Walmart; Denise Morrison, CEO and President, Campbell Soup; Sandra Peterson, Group Worldwide Chair, Johnson & Johnson; Judith McKenna, EVP and COO, Walmart U.S., Walmart; Carolyn Tastad, Group President, North America, Procter & Gamble; and Jennifer Taubert, Company Group Chairman, Johnson & Johnson. Also, Sukanya Madlinger, SVP, Retail Divisions, Kroger was listed in the “On Our Radar” section of the U.S. list.

The “International Power 50” list includes Ornella Barra, Co-COO, Walgreens Boots Alliance; Wan Ling Martello, Head of Asia, Oceania, and Sub-Saharan Africa, Nestlé; Nancy McKinstry, CEO and Chairman, Wolters Kluwer; Emma Walmsley, CEO, GSK Consumer Healthcare, GSK; Erica Mann, Head of Consumer Health Division, Bayer; and Alison Watkins, Group Managing Director, Coca-Cola Amatil.

Extended Fruth Pharmacy Family Steps Up Amid Flood

Chris Krese2016-07-13T11:40:11-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: Community, Preparedness|

Mother Nature’s might is revealing itself yet again in the West Virginia flooding of three weeks ago. Also on display is the power of the helping hand and the human spirit – with the customers, employees and business partners of Fruth Pharmacy figuring significantly in the relief effort.

NACDS.org talked with Lynne Fruth, president of Fruth Pharmacy and a member of the NACDS Board of Directors, and with several team members, about the flood and its aftermath.

“VERY DEVASTATING”

Fruth describes the flash flooding of June 23, 2016, as only a true West Virginian can. She tells of the tragic loss, and near misses, of people she knows well, and she compares the flooding to other infamous days in the state’s history.

“It reminds me of the Buffalo Creek flood,” she said, referring to a tragic dam burst in 1972. “People heard the water coming, ran to the highest point and watched the water come in.”

Given the number of people in the extended pharmacy family who know Fruth, the question on the minds of many is how the people and property of the 29-store chain fared.

“We were really fortunate,” she said. “There was disaster all around us. Our new store took on minimal water, but we were really completely spared as a chain. We had no loss of employees or their immediate family’s homes. Having said that, within a few miles of our stores, we had loss of life, children swept away, tremendous loss. It is very devastating.”

She recounted one story of a neighbor who was sad to stand on the site of her family’s dream home that had been ruined, but whose emotions were focused more intently on those across the street who were swept away along with their home in the flood waters – leaving them among those who truly lost everything.

“That’s perspective,” Fruth said.

For West Virginians, the stories are many and cut deep – and so, too, are the motivations to help make a difference for those who got by with a near miss.

“HELPING CUSTOMERS KNOW THEY’RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE”

When Fruth talks about her company’s involvement in the relief effort, she puts everything in terms of the company’s customers, employees and [ READ MORE ]