Prime Therapeutics Announces URAC Accreditation

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Prime Therapeutics (Prime), a thought leader in pharmacy benefit management, announced today it has been awarded full Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) accreditation from URAC, a Washington, DC-based health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. Prime received initial full Pharmacy Benefit Management URAC accreditation in 2007, and has also achieved URAC accreditation for its Medication Therapy Management program and for PrimeMail®, the organization's prescription home delivery service.

The URAC PBM accreditation program is designed to encourage PBM industry best practices, promote quality improvement and protect and empower consumers. The URAC standards development process is consensus driven, with hundreds of industry experts serving as volunteers to establish and revise appropriate industry benchmarks.

"At Prime, we strive for continual process improvement in the quality of products and services we provide to our clients and their members; achieving URAC reaccreditation clearly demonstrates that commitment," said Eric Elliott, President and Chief Executive Officer, Prime. "Accreditation also validates Prime's commitment to delivering inventive pharmacy solutions that keep member care and safety front and center."

Accreditation sets industry-wide clinical and operational standards and brings a recognizable seal of quality to accredited organizations. It is URAC's goal to develop accreditation standards and provide the assurance that, notwithstanding different business models, the content of what is provided to clients and their members meets acceptable standards.

"By applying for and receiving full Pharmacy Benefit Management accreditation, Prime Therapeutics has demonstrated a commitment to quality health care," said Alan P. Spielman, URAC president and CEO. "Quality health care is crucial to our nation's welfare and it is important to have organizations that are willing to measure themselves against national standards."

URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is a leader in promoting health care quality

through accreditation and certification programs. URAC's standards keep pace with the rapid

changes in the health care system, and provide a mark of distinction for health care organizations

to demonstrate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based

governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all

stakeholders are represented in setting meaningful standards for the health care industry. For

more information, visit www.urac.org.

Prime Therapeutics LLC is a pharmacy benefit management company dedicated to providing innovative, clinically-based, cost-effective pharmacy solutions for clients and members. Providing pharmacy benefit services nationwide to nearly 17 million covered lives*, its client base includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, employer and union groups, and third-party administrators. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Prime Therapeutics is collectively owned by 12 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, subsidiaries or affiliates of those Plans. Learn more at www.primetherapeutics.com.

*As of January 1, 2011

SOURCE Prime Therapeutics