March 9, 2011 Today is a wake-up call to consumers and the payments industry. Last year, a start-up named Square introduced a credit card reader for smartphones with the goal of making it very easy for anyone to accept credit cards through a mobile device. Seems like a great idea, but there is a serious security flaw that Square has overlooked that places consumers in dire risk.
Click here to read more
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
The RMS Roadshow is now online. Follow the fun!!
Feb 7, 2011, Olympia, WA The Roadshow http://www.rms-ontheroad.com/ is a grassroots customer service campaign that will take RMS Vice President of Operations, Chris Gage, around the country for the next 2 years in her RV to personally meet our customers. The goal is to ensure we truly hear, understand and address their needs.
While technology has improved our lives and businesses in many ways, it has also created communication barriers. Anyone who uses email has probably experienced a situation where their words were misunderstood or their messages went unread. The Roadshow pays tribute to “old school” service where nothing could replace actually standing inside the walls of your customer’s business, having a face to face conversation and then shaking hands until next time.
The idea for the Roadshow was conceived by Chris in April of 2010 after completing a personal and professional development program called “Live a Thousand Years”. RMS’ CEO Brad Jones had seen the creator of the program, Giovanni Livera, perform at a pharmacy industry trade show and was so inspired that he gave all employees at RMS the program and served as a mentor to see them through it. From this, Chris was able to envision a plan where she could combine her personal goal of seeing the country with her professional goal of establishing stronger relationships with her customers. She presented this plan to Brad in May of 2010 and by October she had sold her house and moved into the 40 foot RV she now calls home and office.
While technology has improved our lives and businesses in many ways, it has also created communication barriers. Anyone who uses email has probably experienced a situation where their words were misunderstood or their messages went unread. The Roadshow pays tribute to “old school” service where nothing could replace actually standing inside the walls of your customer’s business, having a face to face conversation and then shaking hands until next time.
The idea for the Roadshow was conceived by Chris in April of 2010 after completing a personal and professional development program called “Live a Thousand Years”. RMS’ CEO Brad Jones had seen the creator of the program, Giovanni Livera, perform at a pharmacy industry trade show and was so inspired that he gave all employees at RMS the program and served as a mentor to see them through it. From this, Chris was able to envision a plan where she could combine her personal goal of seeing the country with her professional goal of establishing stronger relationships with her customers. She presented this plan to Brad in May of 2010 and by October she had sold her house and moved into the 40 foot RV she now calls home and office.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Debit Cards -- Changing Landscape
Feb 1, 2011 As you may be aware, last year, the pin debit networks all dramatically increased their pricing structures and eliminated the cap on their fees....at the same time that Visa/MC lowered their signature debit interchange rates (particularly on sales under $15).....taking away the cost advantage for merchants when customers use pin activation....there is a great savings for NON-PIN debit transactions under $15.
As part of the Dodd-Frank financial reform act passed last year by Congress and signed by President Obama, the government is now required to put limits on debit (signature and pin) interchange fees. The Federal Reserve is responsible to gather information from the public and establish the rules.....they have announced preliminary guidelines, which must be finalized by the end of April and implemented at the end of June.
Currently, debit (pin and signature) interchange fees range from approximately 1% of the value of the sale plus between $.16 and $.24 per transaction...there are variations between Visa/MC and the pin debit networks, but they are all pretty close.
The PRELIMINARY recommendation by the FED is to limit debit interchange fees to between $.07 and $.12 (a number of variables for the range and smaller issuing banks would not be subject to the interchange limits) and not have any percentage......these do NOT include fees charged by processors (like First Data/CTS) for their services.
If the recommendations are anything like the final rules, merchants will save significantly. It is unclear what will happen to the pin debit networks as they do not have other revenue sources to make up the shortfall.....we are already seeing banks institute new fees to make up for the billions they will lose when the interchange is regulated.
As part of the Dodd-Frank financial reform act passed last year by Congress and signed by President Obama, the government is now required to put limits on debit (signature and pin) interchange fees. The Federal Reserve is responsible to gather information from the public and establish the rules.....they have announced preliminary guidelines, which must be finalized by the end of April and implemented at the end of June.
Currently, debit (pin and signature) interchange fees range from approximately 1% of the value of the sale plus between $.16 and $.24 per transaction...there are variations between Visa/MC and the pin debit networks, but they are all pretty close.
The PRELIMINARY recommendation by the FED is to limit debit interchange fees to between $.07 and $.12 (a number of variables for the range and smaller issuing banks would not be subject to the interchange limits) and not have any percentage......these do NOT include fees charged by processors (like First Data/CTS) for their services.
If the recommendations are anything like the final rules, merchants will save significantly. It is unclear what will happen to the pin debit networks as they do not have other revenue sources to make up the shortfall.....we are already seeing banks institute new fees to make up for the billions they will lose when the interchange is regulated.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Retail Management Solutions Hits the Road for Customer Satisfaction Tour
December 30, 2010, Retail Management Solutions (RMS), an Olympia, Wash. company specializing in retail pharmacy technology began a tour of the United States today, with the goal of visiting current and potential customers along the way. With customers facing a glut of communications, from direct mail, to text message, phone calls and countless emails, RMS is taking to the streets to meet the people and businesses that use their products.
Chris Gage, vice president of operations, sold her home in 2010, purchased an RV, and hit the road in an effort to open lines of communication with pharmacists. Ms. Gage will be speaking with customers at small and mid-sized pharmacies around the country in order learn how to improve RMS’s products and improve communications.
“By speaking with our customers face-to-face, we will be able to build stronger relationships so that when one of our customers has a question or concern, they feel completely comfortable picking up the phone and working with us to find a solution,” said Gage. “We have a reputation as an industry leader and it’s important that we meet those expectations and provide the best service possible.”
As one of the most highly regulated retail sectors, pharmacies are faced with rapidly changing government policies and mandates. RMS’s deep understanding of the industry means that they often provide updates to customers on compliance issues and changing technology needs. However, as pharmacists face a multitude of communications in all forms, important information sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.
“Pharmacists value personal interaction. They meet with dozens of customers a day and build meaningful relationships with the people that visit their store. We feel that those values shouldn’t be lost in an age of e-marketing, Facebook campaigns, and teleconferences,” said Brad Jones, president and CEO of Retail Management Solutions. “With customers around the country, we’ve realized that we weren’t making those connections as frequently as we would like and we had to do something to change that.”
Gage is starting her tour on the West Coast traveling south from Vancouver, Washington to the San Francisco Bay area and into Los Angeles in late January. RMS customers in those areas are encouraged to contact Ms. Gage with any questions or to set up a meeting.
Chris Gage, vice president of operations, sold her home in 2010, purchased an RV, and hit the road in an effort to open lines of communication with pharmacists. Ms. Gage will be speaking with customers at small and mid-sized pharmacies around the country in order learn how to improve RMS’s products and improve communications.
“By speaking with our customers face-to-face, we will be able to build stronger relationships so that when one of our customers has a question or concern, they feel completely comfortable picking up the phone and working with us to find a solution,” said Gage. “We have a reputation as an industry leader and it’s important that we meet those expectations and provide the best service possible.”
As one of the most highly regulated retail sectors, pharmacies are faced with rapidly changing government policies and mandates. RMS’s deep understanding of the industry means that they often provide updates to customers on compliance issues and changing technology needs. However, as pharmacists face a multitude of communications in all forms, important information sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.
“Pharmacists value personal interaction. They meet with dozens of customers a day and build meaningful relationships with the people that visit their store. We feel that those values shouldn’t be lost in an age of e-marketing, Facebook campaigns, and teleconferences,” said Brad Jones, president and CEO of Retail Management Solutions. “With customers around the country, we’ve realized that we weren’t making those connections as frequently as we would like and we had to do something to change that.”
Gage is starting her tour on the West Coast traveling south from Vancouver, Washington to the San Francisco Bay area and into Los Angeles in late January. RMS customers in those areas are encouraged to contact Ms. Gage with any questions or to set up a meeting.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Most Over-The-Counter medicines and drugs no longer eligible for purchase with an FSA card unless prescribed
WASHINGTON Dec 21, 2010 The Internal Revenue Service today issued new guidance allowing the continued use of health flexible spending arrangement (FSA) and health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) debit cards for the purchase of prescribed over-the-counter medicines and drugs.
The new guidance modifies previous guidance to permit taxpayers to continue using FSA and HRA debit cards to purchase over-the-counter medications for which the taxpayer has a prescription. Effective after Jan. 15, 2011, in accordance with the new guidance, this use of debit cards must comply with procedures reflecting those that pharmacies currently follow when selling prescribed medicines or drugs.
The procedures include requirements that a prescription for the medication be presented to the pharmacy or the mail-order or web-based vendor that dispenses the medication and that proper records be retained.
In accordance with the Affordable Care Act, the cost of over-the-counter medicines or drugs can be reimbursed from a health FSA or HRA if a prescription has been obtained. The requirement to obtain a prescription does not apply to insulin.
The prescription requirement applies to purchases made on or after Jan. 1, 2011, and not to purchases made in 2010 even if reimbursed after Dec. 31, 2010. Because the requirement applies only to over-the-counter medications, it does not apply to other health care expenses such as medical devices, eye glasses or contact lenses.
The new guidance, IRS Notice 2011-5, as well as answers to frequently asked questions on IRS.gov, also contain further details on health FSA and HRA debit card purchases, including purchases from health care providers other than pharmacies and mail order and web-based vendors.
For guidance on health FSA and HRA debit card purchases at “90 percent pharmacies,” see IRS Notice 2010-59. More information on health care reform provisions can be found on the Affordable Care Act page on IRS.gov.
I am also providing a link to an older post http://rms-pharmacypos.blogspot.com/2010/07/health-care-reform-and-fsa-cards.html that explains what is and isn't eligible beginning Jan 1, 2001.
Also, please note that the IRS has granted a SIGIS request to allow the industry until January 15th to be in compliance with the new rules. This gives all of us the opportunity to ensure the new eligible items list is downloaded and in place without having to have staff working overtime on the weekend to be in compliance.
As always if you are an RMS customer, your new list will be downloaded to you automatically. More information will be sent to you directly in the coming weeks.
The new guidance modifies previous guidance to permit taxpayers to continue using FSA and HRA debit cards to purchase over-the-counter medications for which the taxpayer has a prescription. Effective after Jan. 15, 2011, in accordance with the new guidance, this use of debit cards must comply with procedures reflecting those that pharmacies currently follow when selling prescribed medicines or drugs.
The procedures include requirements that a prescription for the medication be presented to the pharmacy or the mail-order or web-based vendor that dispenses the medication and that proper records be retained.
In accordance with the Affordable Care Act, the cost of over-the-counter medicines or drugs can be reimbursed from a health FSA or HRA if a prescription has been obtained. The requirement to obtain a prescription does not apply to insulin.
The prescription requirement applies to purchases made on or after Jan. 1, 2011, and not to purchases made in 2010 even if reimbursed after Dec. 31, 2010. Because the requirement applies only to over-the-counter medications, it does not apply to other health care expenses such as medical devices, eye glasses or contact lenses.
The new guidance, IRS Notice 2011-5, as well as answers to frequently asked questions on IRS.gov, also contain further details on health FSA and HRA debit card purchases, including purchases from health care providers other than pharmacies and mail order and web-based vendors.
For guidance on health FSA and HRA debit card purchases at “90 percent pharmacies,” see IRS Notice 2010-59. More information on health care reform provisions can be found on the Affordable Care Act page on IRS.gov.
I am also providing a link to an older post http://rms-pharmacypos.blogspot.com/2010/07/health-care-reform-and-fsa-cards.html that explains what is and isn't eligible beginning Jan 1, 2001.
Also, please note that the IRS has granted a SIGIS request to allow the industry until January 15th to be in compliance with the new rules. This gives all of us the opportunity to ensure the new eligible items list is downloaded and in place without having to have staff working overtime on the weekend to be in compliance.
As always if you are an RMS customer, your new list will be downloaded to you automatically. More information will be sent to you directly in the coming weeks.
Monday, October 18, 2010
94% of Customers Using RMS Live Support Chat say they will use it again.
Monday, January 17, Olympia WA
In October, RMS launched Live Support Chat, giving customers with quick support questions the opportunity to interact with a support technician immediately via a live chat window available at http://www.rm-solutions.com/. Since the launch, 94% of the customers that have used the service say they will use it again.
"We are extremely pleased with the results to date and encourage more of our customers to take advantage of the service which give immediate access to a technical support representative for quick "how to" questions," said Brian Hillman, RMS's support manager.
Live Support Chat is available from 10am Eastern to 7pm Eastern Monday through Friday. Those hours may expand as usage increases. Toll free support remains 24/7.
Live Chat allows for quick answers to how-to questions. In many cases the support tech can send the customer a detailed How-To document via the chat window.
"We are excited to offer this new service in our never ending commitment to providing the best customer experience possible," said President & CEO Brad Jones.
If for any reason the support tech cannot assist the customer via Live Chat, a support case is immediately added to the support queue just as if the case had been entered via the company’s website or toll-free support line.
In October, RMS launched Live Support Chat, giving customers with quick support questions the opportunity to interact with a support technician immediately via a live chat window available at http://www.rm-solutions.com/. Since the launch, 94% of the customers that have used the service say they will use it again.
"We are extremely pleased with the results to date and encourage more of our customers to take advantage of the service which give immediate access to a technical support representative for quick "how to" questions," said Brian Hillman, RMS's support manager.
Live Support Chat is available from 10am Eastern to 7pm Eastern Monday through Friday. Those hours may expand as usage increases. Toll free support remains 24/7.
Live Chat allows for quick answers to how-to questions. In many cases the support tech can send the customer a detailed How-To document via the chat window.
"We are excited to offer this new service in our never ending commitment to providing the best customer experience possible," said President & CEO Brad Jones.
If for any reason the support tech cannot assist the customer via Live Chat, a support case is immediately added to the support queue just as if the case had been entered via the company’s website or toll-free support line.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
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