URAC's Upcoming Pharmacy Benefit Management Accreditation on Agenda for PBMI Conference Feb. 21-23
14-Feb-2007: WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- An update on the rollout of proposed standards for the first-ever voluntary accreditation program for pharmacy benefit management organizations will be on the agenda for the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute's 2007 Prescription Drug Utilization Management Conference Feb. 21-23 in Phoenix, AZ.
John D. Jones, RPh, JD, chairman of URAC's Pharmacy Benefit Management Advisory Committee, will present "Raising the Bar on Quality: Establishing Standards for PBMs" during a 9:15 a.m. session Feb. 23. Jones, who is also vice president of professional practice and pharmacy policy for Prescription Solutions, a United Health Group Company located in Irvine, Calif., will discuss the importance of accreditation for programs to align performance standards with industry best practices.
"The new URAC Pharmacy Benefit Management accreditation standards fill a need expressed by purchasers, consumers and regulators to better understand the practices of the pharmacy benefit management industry and to recognize those companies that demonstrate the qualities of their program by achieving accredited status," Jones said.
The session will offer participants insight into URAC's developing pharmacy benefit management accreditation program. URAC, the Washington, D.C.-based independent accreditor of health care management organizations, is creating the program to promote industry best practices, encourage quality improvement, and protect and empower consumers.
URAC has assembled a multi-stakeholder committee to advise the organization on the development of standards for pharmacy benefit management accreditation products to be launched in 2007. URAC released draft standards for the commercially insured population for public comment in the fall of 2006. Organization Beta testing of the standards is scheduled for the first half of 2007, and final standards are expected to be approved and issued this summer.
"There is a great deal of excitement among pharmacy benefit management organizations and purchasers/consultants about the new standards as we move into the Beta testing phase," said Alan Spielman, URAC's president and chief executive officer. "This new accreditation program will bring a remarkable opportunity for organizations to demonstrate they meet industry-recognized standards and to attain the URAC quality seal."
Source: Earthtimes.org
