Prime Therapeutics Hires Don Amorosi, Chief Operating Officer, and Duane Barnes, Senior Vice President of Consumer Delivery

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Prime Therapeutics (Prime) announces that it has hired Don Amorosi as Chief Operating Officer and Duane Barnes as Senior Vice President, Consumer Delivery.

Amorosi will oversee marketing, government programs, claims and benefit operations, quality assurance teams, pharmacy network management and health care reform implementation efforts. Prior to joining Prime, Amorosi served as an officer and Vice President of Trade Relations at Omnicare, Inc. He has also held management positions at several other industry organizations, including the head of Pharmacy Contracting at Aetna, Assistant Vice President of PBM Operations at CIGNA, Vice President of Pharmacy Benefit Management at Rite Aid Corporation and a group manager at Argus Health Systems, Inc. He received his bachelor's degree in finance from Oklahoma State University.

"Don brings an extensive track record of pharmacy benefit management operations and contract administration expertise," said Eric Elliott, President and CEO, Prime. "Efficiency and effectiveness of operations are key priorities and I am confident that Don will be critical to our success in these areas."

In his role, Barnes will oversee the contact center, PrimeMail® (mail-service pharmacy), and Prime's specialty pharmacy program, Triessent®. Additionally, Barnes will assume the primary role in driving the necessary consumer-focused orientation across all aspects of the enterprise. He will lead Prime's efforts to provide support for members in helping them more easily access medications and information, lead efforts to expand Prime's consumer delivery capabilities, and will accelerate strategies to ensure Prime's competitive position in the increasingly 'consumer-engaged' pharmacy benefit management space.

Barnes comes to Prime from Aetna Rx Home Delivery, where he served as Senior Vice President of Home Delivery and Specialty Pharmacy. He also served as the National Director of Logistics and Transportation at Quest Diagnostics, and Vice President and General Manager of Medco Health Solutions, Inc. He received his bachelor's degree from West Virginia University and master's degrees in Strategic Management and Global Supply Chain Management from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business.

"Ensuring our members have the highest level of service is a top priority. As health care reform measures are implemented and as the ways members access their medications and health care information changes, it's also important that we stay ahead of these changes and continue providing industry-leading services to our members," said Elliott. "Duane's experience and leadership will be valuable in securing a member lens on our offerings and how we service individuals. This will enable us to continue to be the leader in pharmacy benefit management, as solutions require an even deeper individual connection."

Prime Therapeutics 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