[Source: Health Lawyers Weekly, August 3, 2007]
URAC, an independent accreditor of healthcare management organizations, released July 27 the first-ever voluntary accreditation standards for pharmacy benefit management organizations.
The Pharmacy Benefit Management Accreditation program includes modules for organizational quality, customer service, communications, disclosure of pricing policies, pharmaceutical distribution, drug utilization management, and formulary/pharmacy and therapeutics committee, URAC said in a press release.
“The standards address key areas for any pharmacy benefit organization, but allow for innovation,” said John Jones, RPh, JD, chairman of URAC’s PBM Standards Committee and vice president of professional practice and pharmacy policy at Prescription Solutions. “Clinical rigor, such as the qualifications of staff who make decisions about drugs included in a formulary and how those decisions are made, is one notable area. The standards also seek a very sound operational base and address regulatory compliance issues, such as oversight of information disclosure to consumers, providers and pharmacists.”
“The accreditation program is really focused on making sure organizations do what is right by the consumer, including standards for appeals procedures and making sure they have access to the drugs they need,” Jones added.
The release also noted that the program underwent a rigorous field testing process, with more than 53% of the market participating in the testing.
Read URAC’s press release.
