Michael J. Fox Foundation and CVS Caremark's Accordant Health Services Collaborate to Provide Resources and Opportunities for Engagement to Parkinson's Patients

Parkinson's disease patients supported by Accordant to receive news of Foundation Web resources, research initiatives and new tool to streamline clinical trial participation

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and NEW YORK, Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Accordant Health Services, a CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) company, and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research today announced a collaboration to provide patients with Parkinson's disease who are enrolled in Accordant-sponsored care management programs with information about resources available through The Michael J. Fox Foundation. Accordant provides care management services for people with rare, chronic conditions. As the world's largest private funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today.

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Through this collaboration, The Michael J. Fox Foundation's research experts will contribute content for Accordant patient newsletters and mailings about Parkinson's disease and available treatments, as well as the latest updates on research. The Foundation will also share with Accordant patients information about the importance of participating in clinical research, and education on Fox Trial Finder (www.foxtrialfinder.org), a new Web-based solution that makes it easier for volunteers to find the specific Parkinson's clinical trials that need them.  

"Accordant is excited to work with The Michael J. Fox Foundation.  Both of our organizations share a commitment to supporting patients with Parkinson's disease as they proactively seek how to get the best out of their treatment," said Andrew Krueger, M.D., Medical Director, Accordant Health Services. "This partnership enables us to connect patients with Parkinson's disease with access to cutting edge information and updates on research, disease information to supplement the education and support we provide, and a resource to find current clinical trials and access to the support and resources the Foundation can offer to them and their families."

"Our Foundation wants PD patients and their loved ones to know they can play a vital role in helping speed a cure," said Todd Sherer, PhD, CEO of The Michael J. Fox Foundation. "Our collaboration with Accordant will help us provide the Parkinson's community with information and tools that can help them get involved and make a difference for everyone living with the disease." 

About Accordant Health Services

Accordant Health Services, Inc., a CVS Caremark company based in Greensboro, N.C., focuses on assisting patients who have complex, chronic diseases with the goal of improving clinical, patient satisfaction and cost-of-care outcomes.  Accordant is a leader in population-based care management for diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, Parkinson's, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia. Accordant's Medical Advisory Board is comprised of national medical experts who participate in the development and continuous quality improvement of the company's programs. For more information about Accordant, visit www.accordant.net or call 1-800-948-2497.

About CVS Caremark

CVS Caremark is the largest pharmacy health care provider in the United States with integrated offerings across the entire spectrum of pharmacy care. We are uniquely positioned to engage plan members in behaviors that improve their health and to lower overall health care costs for health plans, plan sponsors and their members. CVS Caremark is a market leader in mail order pharmacy, retail pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, and retail clinics, and is a leading provider of Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. As one of the country's largest pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), we provide access to a network of approximately 65,000 pharmacies, including more than 7,300 CVS/pharmacy® stores that provide unparalleled service and capabilities. Our clinical offerings include our signature Pharmacy Advisor™ program as well as innovative generic step therapy and genetic benefit management programs that promote more cost effective and healthier behaviors and improve health care outcomes. General information about CVS Caremark is available through the Company's website at http://info.cvscaremark.com/.

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

As the world's largest private funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers.  In addition to funding more than $275 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. Now through December 31, 2012, all new and increased giving to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, as well as gifts from donors who have not given since 2009 or earlier, will be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis with the $50-million Brin Wojcicki Challenge, launched by Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki.

To learn more, visit www.michaeljfox.org; www.facebook.org/michaeljfoxfoundation.

SOURCE CVS Caremark