WellPoint Pharmacy Management Launches RxFrontier, the First PBM-Offer

    Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

    WEST HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2005--WellPoint Pharmacy Management, the nation's largest health plan-owned pharmacy benefits manager (PBM), today announced the launch of RxFrontier(SM), the first PBM-offered multi-dimensional education program for pharmacists nationwide. RxFrontier provides tools and training that clinical pharmacists can use to help reinforce health management of patients through monitoring the appropriate use of prescribed medication and follow-up on medication compliance in between patient-physician visits.
    "We're always looking for ways to help our client's members achieve better health management," said Michael Nameth, president WellPoint Pharmacy Management. "RxFrontier's innovative and unique programs help participating pharmacists bridge the health care gap that can often exist between the physician's office visits. This is an essential time where pharmacists can continue to monitor and encourage patients to help in managing their disease state."
    RxFrontier has been approved by the Accrediting Council for Pharmacy Education and is available to WellPoint Pharmacy Management network pharmacists. The program includes three multi-faceted product modules including an evidence-based continuing education (CE) program called Train-the-Trainer where pharmacists attend a full day seminar that can provide up to eight CE credits. Through an interactive design, Train-the-Trainer teaches, by example, methods pharmacists can use to advise patients on specific disease states in a way that promotes patient compliance with their medications and treatment plan. These sessions seat up to 100 and are available to invited pharmacists on a first-come, first-served basis. The first session focused on diabetes and was held recently in Orange County.
    "Pharmacists must be ready to adopt new pharmacy practices that will be required by the new Medicare law in 2006," said Leo McStroul, R.Ph., a credentialed diabetes manager and pharmacist in Northridge, California. "WellPoint Pharmacy Management is the only PBM I know of that has an educational program that includes a component like RxFrontier's Train-the-Trainer to help pharmacists be ready for the upcoming changes. I attended the first session and feel that WellPoint Pharmacy Management has made an excellent start with RxFrontier."
    Another product module, Health Management (HM) Tool Chest, delivers interactive pharmacist-facilitated teaching materials that are customized for each disease state and structured to help the pharmacist enhance patient care. This is done by either directly interacting with the patients at the pharmacy level or handing or mailing patients educational materials to review at home, which they can then bring back to the pharmacist if they have any questions. This product teaches the pharmacist to identify and provide information to the patient and their physician when necessary to encourage optimal health care outcomes. Tools in this product include patient education take home materials and exercises that are recommended by national organizations, initial and follow-up patient assessments, a tracking component for specific disease reporting, clinical information, pharmacist summary and recommendation sheets and physician recommendation letter templates.
    RxFrontier's final product module is Clinical Outcomes Measurement. In this module, a clinical analysis team from WellPoint Pharmacy Management can provide pharmacist training on how to track and demonstrate program effectiveness.
    "The only way to effectively treat a chronic disease such as diabetes is to make sure all the members of a patient's health care team are in sync with the disease treatment and management program prescribed by the physician," said Dr. Anne Peters, medical director, University of California Diabetes Programs. "Pharmacists are a vital part of a patient's health care team. A program like RxFrontier helps to integrate all potential members of the patient's care group to arrive at the best possible health care outcome for the member."
    RxFrontier is available to all WellPoint Pharmacy Management network pharmacists or pharmacy groups.

    WellPoint Pharmacy Management is the nation's leading health plan-owned pharmacy benefit management company. WellPoint Pharmacy Management is the trade name of Professional Claim Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE:WLP). With complete pharmacy benefit management services for employers and health plans nationwide, WellPoint Pharmacy Management's products include clinical management programs, drug formulary management, claims processing, benefit design consultation, pharmacy network management, local network contract development, manufacturer discount programs, prescription drug databases and utilization management. In addition, WellPoint Pharmacy Management provides mail order pharmacy fulfillment services through its affiliate, PrecisionRx, Inc. WellPoint Pharmacy Management can be found on the web at www.wellpointrx.com.

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CONTACT: WellPoint Pharmacy Management Lisa Mee-Stephenson, 805-557-6790 lisa.mee-stephenson@wellpoint.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL EDUCATION PHARMACEUTICAL CONSUMER/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCT SOURCE: WellPoint Pharmacy Management

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