APCI and Aureus Health Services Announce the Launch of APCI Specialty Care Program for Community Pharmacies

BESSEMER, AL, April 11, 2016 (Newswire.com) -  American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc. (APCI), a leading national community pharmacy cooperative, announced today that it is launching a new specialty pharmacy services program to expand pharmacy services for patients living with chronic and complex health conditions.

APCI Specialty Care, as the program is known, is being launched in partnership with Aureus Health Services, a specialty pharmacy and health management company.

APCI Specialty Care will provide patients with access to specialty medications at their local community pharmacy, where patients often have a longstanding relationship with their pharmacist. The medications involved are used to treat chronic diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hepatitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn’s Disease, and others.

 “APCI is pleased to partner with Aureus Health Services to help bring this important element of patient care to local independent pharmacies,” said Tim Hamrick, CEO of APCI. “Previously, many community pharmacies had to refer their patients to other providers because they were not equipped with the resources to manage specialty medications. Now, our member pharmacies will be able to provide this valuable service to their patients and continue to enhance the relationship between the patient and the local pharmacist who they know and trust.”

Specialty medications are the fastest-growing segment of the pharmaceutical industry, and spending on specialty medications is expected to exceed 50 percent of total drug spending by 2018. These medications can be complex to administer, have a high cost, and may require special storage or handling. They also require strict adherence to a patient’s treatment plan, making APCI Specialty Care services an essential component of a patient’s overall health care continuum.

In addition to offering specialty medications, APCI Specialty Care will also provide patients with educational resources; develop individualized clinical care plans; coordinate insurance benefits; assist in finding financial resources to help patients afford their medications; and ensure ongoing patient care throughout the course of treatment.

“Aureus is excited to partner with APCI on the APCI Specialty Care program,” said Michael Nameth, CEO of Aureus Health Services. “This program will enhance the service and value provided to patients by APCI’s member independent pharmacies.”

APCI will roll out the program to its member pharmacies in phases over the next year.

ABOUT APCI

American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc., (APCI) is a member-owned group purchasing organization, established in 1984, and based in Bessemer, Alabama. APCI’s mission is to protect and promote the interests of independent pharmacy and the more than 1,600 member pharmacies in 30 states and Puerto Rico that the co-op serves. Through an extensive offering of exceptional services and comprehensive programs, APCI enables its members to improve their positions in a competitive marketplace. For more information, visit www.apcinet.com

ABOUT AUREUS HEALTH SERVICES

Aureus Health Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meijer, Inc., is a national specialty pharmacy and health management company with more than 20 years of experience assisting patients, families, and medical professionals to cope with and treat a wide range of chronic health conditions. By delivering customized pharmacy and healthcare services, Aureus optimizes outcomes for patients, physicians, payors and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Aureus holds both ACHC and URAC specialty pharmacy accreditations and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa. For more information, visit www.aureushealthservices.com

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CONTACTS:

APCI: Jennifer Baun, (205) 277-1007 or [email protected]​
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​Aureus Health Services: Dan Roelofs, [email protected]