Medco Extends URAC Accreditation to Drug Therapy Management, PBM
Independent health care quality evaluator finds Medco programs improve pharmacy care
FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Dec. 28, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Medco Health Solutions, Inc., (NYSE: MHS) today announced that URAC, one of the nation's leading independent health care quality evaluators, has accredited Medco's Pharmacy Benefit Management and Drug Therapy Management (DTM) programs, recognizing the company's commitment to clinical quality and accountability to customers.
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URAC conducted an extensive review evaluating more than 400 standards at Medco's Franklin Lakes, N.J., headquarters, as well individual call centers and the Medco Therapeutic Resource Centers® (TRCs). URAC surveyors evaluated a range of services such as Medco's RationalMed® patient safety system and its drug utilization review system. Medco's DTM programs include the TRCs - which provides access to Medco Specialist Pharmacists who are trained in helping patients with specific chronic and complex conditions - as well as the company's call center and front-end pharmacies.
Medco Specialist Pharmacists are changing the practice of pharmacy in the TRCs by offering patients with chronic diseases - such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, HIV, depression, cardiovascular disease or high cholesterol - focused and personalized care that is specific to their condition. Medco's research subsidiary, the Medco Research InstituteTM, is presenting and publishing data that demonstrates how specialized and personalized pharmacy intervention can help identify potential issues and improve outcomes for patients managing a chronic condition.
"Medco is leading a mission to make medicine smarter by advancing the field of pharmacy on multiple fronts. We are focused on advancing the skills of our clinicians, on leveraging technology and science, and conducting revealing research to make the practice of pharmacy personal and more precise," said Dr. Glen Stettin, Medco's chief medical officer.
Researchers from the Medco Research Institute have recently presented at major medical conferences including the American College of Cardiology, American Society for Clinical Oncology, the American Diabetes Association's scientific sessions, and have had papers published in leading journals such as Pharmacotherapy, American Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, among others. In addition, Medco recently launched an online safety net for its 65 million members to help improve medication adherence and prevent medication risks, building upon the company's legacy of pharmacy safety programs.
"URAC's accreditations reflect the outstanding work of Medco's specialist pharmacists, nurses and patient support staff, and the strength of Medco's operational capabilities. Their review provides an exacting third-party examination of the services vitally important to the well-being of our patients, our clients and members," Stettin said.
Alan P. Spielman, URAC president and CEO added, "By applying for and receiving URAC accreditation, Medco has demonstrated a commitment to quality health care. Quality health care is crucial to our nation's welfare and it is important to have organizations that are willing to measure themselves against national standards and undergo rigorous evaluation by an independent accrediting body."
This new accreditation extends the Drug Therapy Management Accreditation received in 2008 and a Pharmacy Benefit Management Accreditation received in autumn of 2007.
About URAC
URAC, an independent nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation, education and measurement programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.
About Medco
Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) is pioneering the world's most advanced pharmacy® and its clinical research and innovations are part of Medco making medicine smarterTM for approximately 65 million members.
With more than 20,000 employees dedicated to improving patient health and reducing costs for a wide range of public and private sector clients, and 2009 revenues of nearly $60 billion, Medco ranks 35th on the Fortune 500 list and is named among the world's most innovative, most admired and most trustworthy companies. For more information, go to http://www.medcohealth.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect our business, particularly those mentioned in the Risk Factors section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Medco Health Solutions, Inc.