Diplomat earns Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites® (VIPPS®) accreditation

FLINT, Mich., Feb. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc. (NYSE: DPLO), the nation's largest independent specialty pharmacy, announced today that it has earned the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites^®, (VIPPS^®), seal of approval from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy^®, (NABP^®). VIPPS-accredited pharmacies meet nationally endorsed standards of pharmacy practice and demonstrate compliance with standards of privacy, authentication and security of prescriptions. Diplomat will display the VIPPS seal on its website, which will serve as a benchmark for consumers and link to verified information about the specialty pharmacy.

"Displaying the VIPPS seal demonstrates Diplomat's commitment to the highest standards of pharmacy practice and excellence in the provision of patient care," said Gary Kadlec, president of Diplomat. "We want our entire constituent base of patients, prescribers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, payors and pharmacists to recognize Diplomat as compliant with state and federal laws and regulations as well as NABP's criteria."

VIPPS is a voluntary program through NABP, which validates online pharmacies on 19 practice criteria evaluating:

• Licensure and policy maintenance
• Prescriptions
• Proper handling of patient information
• Communications
• Storage and shipment
• Compliance with federal and state laws regarding the sale of over-the-counter products
• Reporting to NABP

"In addition to demonstrating our commitment to excellence, the VIPPS sets the stage for Diplomat to expand its online presence," said Jennifer Cretu, vice president of marketing and public relations at Diplomat. "As an added bonus, the VIPPS seal proves that Diplomat is a fully vetted online pharmacy with the utmost commitment to patient safety."

NABP does not regulate online pharmacies, but offers the VIPPS certification as a means for these businesses to demonstrate competent Internet-based pharmacy practices. Pharmacies that have earned VIPPS accreditation are required to undergo annual review and a three-year accreditation review to ensure continued compliance.

Diplomat is one of a select of pharmacies that have earned the prestigious VIPPS certification. According to NABP, the organization has reviewed over 10,000 Internet pharmacy sites, with only three percent appearing to be in compliance with pharmacy laws and practice standards.

To learn more about Diplomat, visit diplomat.is.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including relating to Diplomat's distribution of the drug(s) set forth above (and any implied financial impact). The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information, and these statements are qualified by important risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those forecasted or indicated by such forward-looking statements. These risks include the number of patients prescribed such drug(s) currently and in the future, patient's adherence to such drug(s), the number of distributors on panel and our relative distribution share, the timing of drug sales, the cost of such drug(s) and reimbursement rates by payors, drug competition, and the factors set forth in "Risk Factors" in Diplomat's prospectus dated October 10, 2014 and in subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by any applicable law, Diplomat assumes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date hereof or the earlier date specified herein, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

To learn more, visit diplomat.is.

About Diplomat
Diplomat (NYSE: DPLO) serves patients and physicians in all 50 states. Headquartered in Flint, Michigan, the company focuses on medication management programs for people with complex chronic diseases, including oncology, immunology, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, HIV, specialized infusion therapy and many other serious or long-term conditions. Diplomat opened its doors in 1975 as a neighborhood pharmacy with one essential tenet: "Take good care of patients, and the rest falls into place." Today, that tradition continues – always focused on improving patient care and clinical adherence. For more information visit www.diplomat.is. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn and like us on Facebook.

CONTACT:
Abigail Bearman, Diplomat
810.768.9563 | [email protected]

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SOURCE Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc.

Related Links

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