Managed Health Care Associates, Inc. (MHA) Announces Expansion of Specialty Pharmaceutical Program

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Managed Health Care Associates, Inc. (MHA),  a leading health care service company focused on alternate site health care providers, is pleased to announce  the expansion of its Specialty Pharmaceutical Program. This includes the addition of experienced specialty pharmaceutical professionals to the MHA Specialty program as well as new investments in improved data tools and services. The enhanced program is evidence of MHA's commitment to continuously develop and deliver solutions that enable MHA pharmacy members to participate in the growing specialty pharmacy market.

• Lois Ann Murray has joined MHA as the Executive Director of Specialty Pharmaceutical Programs. Lois Ann has over 25 years of experience in the home infusion industry with the last seven years spent with a national specialty pharmacy provider where she served as Senior Vice President of Pharma Relations and Clinical Services. Her primary responsibilities at MHA include directly working with specialty pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors as well as expanding MHA's Specialty Pharmacy Programs in developing fee for service contracts, adherence and persistency programs and access to limited distribution products.

• Dr. Stacey Ness, Pharm.D has joined MHA as Associate Director of Specialty Pharmaceutical Programs.  Dr. Ness has an extensive specialty pharmaceutical background including her role as Clinical Services Director for one of the nation's leading specialty pharmacy providers.  Her most recent experience was as a Clinical Program Manager for one of the nation's largest payers. Dr. Ness also has expertise in clinical management, adherence and persistency programs, as well as cost optimization strategies of chronic diseases including oral oncology, multiple sclerosis, transplant, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, psoriasis, hepatitis and HIV. Dr. Ness is active in the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, National Home Infusion Association, Hematology and Oncology Pharmacy Association, and has served on the Minnesota Medicaid Drug Formulary Committee since 2008.

• MHA has recently launched its expanded Specialty Pharmaceutical Provider Profile Tool. This expanded web based tool has been redesigned, based on feedback from specialty manufacturers and payers, to capture relevant data as it relates to individual pharmacies. This tool is an interactive database which categorizes each and every MHA Specialty Pharmacy Network member by area of expertise. This includes specific disease state expertise and patient support services in addition to overall clinical excellence.  

• MHA's Pharmaceutical Data Services business unit (PDS) has expanded and is now actively working with specialty pharmaceutical manufacturers on multiple projects and contracts related to adherence and appropriate use of their specialty pharmaceutical products. PDS was initially developed as a data access and aggregation business designed to provide prescribing and treatment insights. This integrated process is now being utilized by more than six major specialty pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Michael J. Sicilian, MHA President commented, "The aforementioned investments MHA has made related to specialty focused tools and resources are in direct response to the feedback we are receiving from specialty pharmaceutical manufacturers and our respective pharmacy members. Specialty manufacturers are beginning to focus less on the class of trade and more on an individual pharmacy's expertise and ability to offer comprehensive specialty patient management programs.  It is also evident that these manufacturers are not looking at traditional GPO contracts that typically provide buy side discounts or rebates. They are focused on pharmacies that can deliver patient adherence, persistency, and clinical outcomes through dedicated clinical and patient focused programs."

About MHA

Managed Health Care Associates, Inc. (MHA) is a leading health care service company that offers a growing portfolio of services and solutions to support the diverse and complex needs of the alternate site health care provider. MHA provides expertise in Group Purchasing, Managed Care and Payer Contracting, Reimbursement Management, Specialty Pharmacy Solutions, Pharmaceutical Data Analytics, Clinical Pharmacy Software and Legislative Advocacy. Through the delivery of innovative and targeted health care services and solutions, MHA helps members increase operational efficiency, maximize business growth and provide optimum care for patients. For more information, visit www.mhainc.com.

SOURCE Managed Health Care Associates, Inc.