PerformRx Drug Therapy Management Program Receives URAC Silver Award for Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Engagement and Protection

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 10, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PerformRx (www.performrx.com), one of the nation's integrated technology leaders offering next generation, full-service pharmacy benefits management, today announced that its drug therapy management (DTM) program has received a silver award for Health Care Consumer Engagement and Protection from URAC, a leading health care accreditation organization. PerformRx is part of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies, a majority-owned subsidiary of Independence Blue Cross; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan holds a minority interest.

The honor, in URAC's Care Coordination and Clinical Integration category, was announced during the 2013 Best Practices Awards Gala as part of URAC's Annual Quality Summit, held September 30 – October 2, 2013 in Washington, D.C. This award recognizes the achievements of organizations that are effectively advancing the role of consumers as active participants in health care through care coordination and clinical integration best practices.

"This year's Best Practices Awards winners are recognized for their leadership in driving innovation for the health care industry," said Kylanne Green, president and CEO of URAC. "These companies have made a difference in the lives of consumers by implementing leading programs with results that matter."

DTM is a distinct group of services that optimize health outcomes by reducing medication-related problems and non-adherence among members. PerformRx's DTM program, the result of a collaboration with two of AmeriHealth Caritas' Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid) managed care organizations, targets members of both plans with diabetes who use 15 or more medications and have a mean seven-fold greater disease burden (a health problem's impact in terms of financial cost, mortality or morbidity) than the plans' respective overall memberships.

Earlier this year, the program also received a Case In Point Platinum Award from Dorland Health in its Managed Care Programs category. Dorland Health, a leading health care publisher, gives Case In Point Platinum Awards annually to recognize health plans, hospitals, health systems and individuals for developing and implementing care coordination and case management programs that improve health care quality.

"The DTM program is just one example of PerformRx's innovative solutions to the health care needs of its clients' members," said Mesfin Tegenu, president of PerformRx. "When quality and cost‐effectiveness of health care are maximized, patients benefit. PerformRx takes great pride in the quality of safety and service it provides for its patients on a daily basis, and we are honored to be recognized by URAC for those efforts."

"This integrated approach completes the circle by engaging and empowering the patient to follow his or her doctor's recommendations," said Eric Berman, D.O., M.S., regional chief medical officer, Northern Division for AmeriHealth Caritas. "This collaboration is an example of AmeriHealth Caritas' and PerformRx's expertise in innovative health care solutions that meet the unique challenges faced by the Medicaid population."

About PerformRx, LLC

PerformRx LLC, a full-service pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), is one of the nation's integrated technology leaders providing an innovative approach to results-focused pharmacy benefit management programs.   PerformRx integrates health care data and utilizes a collaborative model of care impacting the overall health care dollar. Driven by the strength of its leaders and passion of its employees, PerformRx helps payers improve patient outcomes while achieving high quality. For more information, visit www.performrx.com.