Don't want to work for CVS? You may not have a choice

[BMBiology]

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http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/07/1...-into-a-health-care-giant.html?_r=0&referrer=

 

[BMBiology]

Don't want to work for Walgreens? You may not have a choice as well:

"Walgreens also might consider buying pharmacies at regional grocery chains, Wolfenbarger said. These include Albertsons Cos., which operates Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco and other stores in 33 states and is preparing for an initial public offering. Other possible targets are Publix Super Markets Inc. and HEB Grocery Co., he said."

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ssina-signals-he-s-looking-for-merger-targets

 

[BMBiology]

I said this in the other thread. Of course this is not a good thing for pharmacists but merger is the trend in healthcare, largely because of Obamacare. The main purpose of Obamacare is to cut cost and therefore, it forces companies to merge to reduce expenses and increase their buying power.

 

[gwarm01]

Walgreens purchased a large regional chain called USA Drug while I was in pharmacy school. Some classmates who were pretty smug about the job awaiting them had a very bad day when that news broke.

 

[SClENCE]

It's funny how the article over emphasizes the move of giving up tobacco. The merge with Caremark was the the most significant move that CVS has made in becoming a "health giant", not giving up tobacco which was merely a publicity stunt.

 

[samuricool]

Target was, to my knowledge, the only other chain pharmacy out there that didn't sell tobacco products. So this recent move made sense. But I don't see other regional grocery store chains giving that up just so cvs can have their pharmacies. Maybe this is where Walgreens can capitalize.

 

[Ackj]

It's funny how the article over emphasizes the move of giving up tobacco. The merge with Caremark was the the most significant move that CVS has made in becoming a "health giant", not giving up tobacco which was merely a publicity stunt.

I thought the plan with the tobacco thing was simply using their PBM leverage because pharmacies with tobacco (aka everyone except CVS) would have higher copays. Not sure if/when they start that.

 

[BenJammin]

Walgreens purchased a large regional chain called USA Drug while I was in pharmacy school. Some classmates who were pretty smug about the job awaiting them had a very bad day when that news broke.

Yep. I was in oklahoma when that happened. Walgreens took over all of the buildings and lost over half of the USA Drug pharmacy staff.

 

[zelman]

I thought the plan with the tobacco thing was simply using their PBM leverage because pharmacies with tobacco (aka everyone except CVS) would have higher copays. Not sure if/when they start that.

I believe the consensus from the last thread on that found it to be an optional plan feature.

 

[Wheresmyaricept]

Yep. I was in oklahoma when that happened. Walgreens took over all of the buildings and lost over half of the USA Drug pharmacy staff.

Unfortunately that's typical with buyouts. It's a huge change compared to what those employees were used to and it's hard to learn a new system and new rules all at once. All your coworkers who were the seasoned vets suddenly have no clue what they're doing and sometimes not all of them are hired on so you'll end up losing a few people due to loyalties. I've done buyouts for stores that averaged 250-300 a day...it was absolute chaos. We had 6 pharmacists and 9 techs for the first week and we still had issues getting scripts out on time.

 

[Shazzy1228]

I said this in the other thread. Of course this is not a good thing for pharmacists but merger is the trend in healthcare, largely because of Obamacare. The main purpose of Obamacare is to cut cost and therefore, it forces companies to merge to reduce expenses and increase their buying power.

Yes this is true. There are hospitals and clinics in my city that are being acquired by bigger,"healthier" health systems. Its a little sad really. Tenet keeps growing.....

 

[Dr Wario]

Yes this is true. There are hospitals and clinics in my city that are being acquired by bigger,"healthier" health systems. Its a little sad really. Tenet keeps growing.....

And this is the way of the future people, all those smug hospital pharmacists will soon find themselves employed by CVS or a corp very similar in the hospital world. I would highly suggest that all pharmacists hoard every penny they make so they can escape when they cannot take it anymore.

 

[rph3664]

Target was, to my knowledge, the only other chain pharmacy out there that didn't sell tobacco products. So this recent move made sense. But I don't see other regional grocery store chains giving that up just so cvs can have their pharmacies. Maybe this is where Walgreens can capitalize.

I was a Target cashier in the early 1980s, and started shortly before they closed their pharmacies. I'll never forget the first time I ever rung up insulin; the price was $6.28 and even though I was 16 years old and years away from deciding I wanted to be a pharmacist, I did know what it was, and I called the pharmacy to confirm the price because I thought it was some kind of mistake. It wasn't. Wish it cost that little now.

One day, a man walked up to my lane and asked me where the chewing tobacco was. I replied (while thinking "GROSS!") that we didn't sell that, and he pointed to the cigarettes, which you could just take off the shelf and buy back then, and said, "You sell those filthy things, but you don't have chewing tobacco?" 🤢

Anecdotes finished, "they" were saying that about Walgreens 20 years ago. 🙄

 

[Shazzy1228]

And this is the way of the future people, all those smug hospital pharmacists will soon find themselves employed by CVS or a corp very similar in the hospital world. I would highly suggest that all pharmacists hoard every penny they make so they can escape when they cannot take it anymore.

It actually amazes me that students are still not hesitant about pharmacy. Granted no area of healthcare is unaffected, but don't people consider the current state of the job market versus 15 years ago? I'm now pre-PA, but I can definitely tell you some downsides to PA (NP's have much more autonomy than them being one). I also love research, but I can tell you that the politics in research alone will drive most people insane. I just wish young people would seriously do their homework on whatever field they choose. I took my time and asked lots of questions. I remember my pharmacy manager(I'm a tech) asking me why I still hadn't settle in a career yet. Its because I want to be sure that whatever headaches and hassles exist are things that I can live with for the rest of my life. YOU COLLEGE STUDENTS NEED TO DO THE SAME. 😉
Speech over lol.

 

[MatCauthon]

And this is the way of the future people, all those smug hospital pharmacists will soon find themselves employed by CVS or a corp very similar in the hospital world. I would highly suggest that all pharmacists hoard every penny they make so they can escape when they cannot take it anymore.

I can't see that happening. Inpatient and clinical pharmacists are run at a loss. Outpatient pharmacies often have 340B status and have profit advantages that CVS wouldn't be able to take advantage of. Hospitals will certainly consolidate, but it would difficult for a company like CVS to fit in that model.

 

[SClENCE]

I can't see that happening. Inpatient and clinical pharmacists are run at a loss. Outpatient pharmacies often have 340B status and have profit advantages that CVS wouldn't be able to take advantage of. Hospitals will certainly consolidate, but it would difficult for a company like CVS to fit in that model.

I don't think he means that CVS will literally be involved, just a CVS-like business model including consolidation

 

[PharmtoCS]

With the push toward single payer healthcare, we may all very well be working for the government if not dependent on it for reimbursements.

 

[pillpharmer14]

With the push toward single payer healthcare, we may all very well be working for the government if not dependent on it for reimbursements.

Don't we already? I feel like the majority of our policies at my hospital are to keep CMS happy.