How Payers Benefit from Our Limited Distribution Drug Expertise

By Ana M. Cavanaugh, RPh, MBA
Senior Director, National Payer Sales and Account Management, Pharmacy Services

As one of the nation’s largest specialty and home delivery pharmacies, AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy has direct access to the majority of limited distribution drugs (LDDs), including several which are exclusive. We partner with over 100 pharmaceutical manufacturers who entrust us with access to more than 200 of these limited distribution medications.

In a previous blog story, we explained that LDDs are specialty medications to which only a handful of pharmacies have access. Because these medications are considered very high touch and have special requirements, manufacturers may choose to limit the distribution of the drug to only a few pharmacies. Manufacturers choose AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy as trusted partner because of our ability to support patients throughout their treatment journey.
 

Payers Benefit from Our Direct LDD Access
With AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy, payers have one partner for all their specialty pharmacy needs. For payers, our broad access to LDDs means they will have:
•    End-to-end solutions.  AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy leads the industry in the LDD space. Our best-in-class drug access allows us to meet most of the specialty needs of our clients. In the event we do not have access to a product, we work directly with the pharmaceutical manufacturer to attempt to gain access on behalf of the patient. AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy can also leverage the full resources of our parent company, Walgreens, and its Enterprise Specialty solution, for access to any products we may not directly fill. 
•    Rapid access to medications. Because there is no delay or expense related to a third-party supplier, payers can quickly access hard-to-find medications. Instances in which we are part of an exclusive or narrow distribution network will lead to expedient contract additions to our payers. 
•    Greater patient satisfaction. Because of our industry-leading access to specialty medications and our innovative specialty model, AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy provides a holistic pharmacy solution. Central and local pharmacies operating under singular clinical programs allow for a consistent patient experience aimed at driving adherence and improving outcomes.  One dedicated pharmacy means patients will have a better overall treatment experience, resulting in higher member satisfaction.
•    Reduced costs. Another byproduct of the better overall treatment experience is lower cost to the payer. Because we are able to manage the full drug therapy needs for the patient, our pharmacists and nurses support any potential issues related to specialty drugs – including potential side effects which could lead to non-adherence. When patients remain on their drug regimen, they provide a healthier membership to the payer. As a result, we can help contribute in managing their overall pharmacy drug trend.

Because of our deep relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers, we begin discussions early to understand the specialty pharmacy pipeline. At the same time, our dedicated teams constantly track when these products may hit the market.

We Offer Actionable Insights
AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy provides its payers quarterly reports outlining utilization and spend of all medications, including LDDs. We offer real-time access to critical information through our proprietary client data and insights tool, Specialty Scope. Specialty Scope visually transforms your current business data into interactive insights, enabling you to best evaluate and respond to patient needs and market trends.

Helping Payers Meet Their Goals
At AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy, we help payers meet their goals in three distinctly different ways: 
1.    We control costs and improve outcomes. We'll partner with payers to proactively control costs by delivering actionable insights through unique market-leading programs that complement existing member management solutions.
2.    We empower patients and providers with our enhanced specialty experience. Unique to AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy offers an enhanced experience for patients and providers.  Timely notifications are delivered to patients based upon preference.  Convenience with a human touch makes it easy for patients to access medications and manage their conditions. We offer a fully aligned retail and central specialty pharmacy solution to deliver total patient-centric care. Allowing the patient experience to move from fragmented care to total patient care  allows the patient to be more proactive in their health management.
3.    Payers gain a flexible ally in AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy. Through our various partnerships, payers benefit from our understanding of the competitive and consolidated healthcare environment and how it impacts drugs costs. It is our goal to serve as a flexible partner and committed ally who understands the changing industry dynamics. We offer best-in-class customizable solutions which give payers what they need to achieve their business objectives.

Learn more how payers benefit from our expertise.

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