Mission council approved a zoning amendment last month that would ban pharmacies and medical clinics from setting up shop in the community's downtown core, at least until downtown revitalization plans are put into place next year. However, the district is now facing a lawsuit by the party that wanted to open a pharmacy at 33133 First Ave., the former site of the community policing station. Council made their decision at a special meeting Aug. 9 to support the zoning change, in a 5-2 vote. Opposing the exclusion were councillors Jenny Stevens and Nelson Tilbury. Both councillors were uncomfortable supporting a motion they believe was based on unsupported rumours the proponent intended to sell medical marijuana, and dispense methadone and needles to addicts. "First of all, every other pharmacy in town can dispense methadone, so that's not new," said Stevens, but she mainly objects to bylaws that target groups or businesses. Mission tried that in 2000, when it proposed 11 bylaws to restrict activities downtown, but all were dropped as they were legally questionable. "You can't legislate against a group of people, full stop. It's against the Charter of Rights . . . and I'm not prepared to support a bylaw … Continue reading →

Last weeks robbery at a Krakow pharmacy demonstrates the desperate steps people addicted to prescription drugs will take, the chief of Franklin Countys drug task force said. This shines a bright light on the growing problem of opiate abuse, said Detective Sgt. Jason Grellner. A man got away with a large amount of Percocet pills in the Tuesday, Aug. 28, afternoon robbery at Halls Pharmacy on Highway A. The robber claimed to have a gun but no weapon was displayed. Following an extensive investigation which included an anonymous tip, detectives questioned, then arrested Matthew J. Florence, 24, of Washington, last Thursday afternoon. Florence later was charged with one count each of first-degree pharmacy robbery and theft of a controlled substance, both felonies. Florence is being held in the county jail on a $150,000 cash-only bond. The charges are prosecuted under a specific state statute related to pharmacy crimes, authorities said. Grellner said Florence, who has no prior felony charges, would never have committed the robbery had he not become addicted to prescription opiates. One in four people who begin taking these drugs under a doctors prescription will become addicted, Grellner said citing statistical data. He said while Americans account for … Continue reading →

ATLANTA, Ga., Sept. 5, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Healthcare Solutions, the parent company of Cypress Care and Procura Management, today announced that it has acquired ScripNet, a leading pharmacy benefit management company serving the workers' compensation market. The acquisition will further strengthen Healthcare Solutions' pharmacy benefit management services and extend its client portfolio, which already includes many of the nation's largest carriers, third party administrators and governmental entities. The combined organization will produce annual revenue exceeding $400 million. "Healthcare Solutions welcomes ScripNet's clients, its employees and other stakeholders to our combined company," said David A. George, CEO of Healthcare Solutions. "Merging the strengths of Healthcare Solutions and ScripNet will result in a combined organization that will continue a tradition of service excellence and innovation." "We are excited to be joining such a well-respected company," said Dennis Sponer, CEO of ScripNet. "Our philosophy and approach to workers' compensation pharmacy management is synergistic with Healthcare Solutions and we are excited about the combined expertise that we will be able to offer our customers." For more information, please contact Matt Weaver at 410.821.8220 or mattw(at)imre(dot)com This article was originally distributed on PRWeb. For the original version including any supplementary images … Continue reading →

CHAMPAIGN Downtown Champaign is expected to get a new pharmacy and convenience store in a matter of months. CompleteCare Pharmacy, which already has locations in downtown Springfield and Chatham, plans to open at 14 E. Washington St., C, on the first floor of the Hickory Building. The store, which will carry convenience foods and household supplies as well as prescription and over-the-counter drugs, could open as early as December, said Bob Pemberton, manager of Independence Holding Co., CompleteCare's parent company. It would be the first time since 1991 that downtown Champaign has had a pharmacy outside a clinic setting. Cavett-Rexall Drug operated a store at 2 Main St. from 1979 to 1989, when it was sold to Hook's, and Hook's operated the store for another two years. In a market dominated by both Walgreens and CVS, Pemberton said CompleteCare aims to provide service and "a hands-on approach ... in a way the chains don't." He said CompleteCare is counting on good foot traffic from people who live or work in downtown Champaign. Plus, there's street parking along the front and side of the building to accommodate people who come by car. The store plans to employ seven people, including at … Continue reading →

LENEXA, KS--(Marketwire -09/05/12)- Speed Script, a market leader in pharmacy management systems and services, and RxMedic Systems, a leading manufacturer of automated dispensing solutions for pharmacies, today announced the development of an interface that directly connects the products of the two companies. With the interface, pharmacies using Speed Script's pharmacy management systems can connect directly to RxMedic's latest automated dispensing technology, including its ADS pharmacy robot, enabling pharmacies to be more accurate, productive, and profitable. "RxMedic's automated dispensing solutions offer our customers fast, accurate dispensing technology," said Speed Script's director of business development, Heath Reynolds. "RxMedic provides some unique advantages to our customers and we're very excited to be partnering with them." "We share Speed Script's dedication to the customer," said David Williams, RxMedic's vice president. "Our automated counting system and pharmacy robot will now be able to work hand-in-hand with their pharmacy management system for a highly efficient product that will positively benefit customers." About Speed ScriptLong known for its dedication to customer service, Speed Script provides a flexible, all-inclusive pharmacy management system and adaptable technology service that enable retail, long-term care, compounding, and hospital outpatient pharmacies to effectively achieve their business goals by improving workflow management and serving … Continue reading →