Prime Therapeutics President and CEO Eric Elliott Presents Keynote Address at 2011 PCMA Managed Markets Educational Forum

MIAMI, Feb. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Attendees at the 2011 Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA)'s Managed Markets Educational Forum today heard Prime Therapeutics' President and CEO Eric Elliott speak about the critical changes facing pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers as health care reform is implemented, industry consolidation increases, a greater number of generics enter the market and the pipeline of new treatments shrinks. Prime Therapeutics is a pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company dedicated to providing innovative, clinically-based, cost-effective pharmacy solutions for clients and members.

"In this time of great change, the industry needs to address the three key areas of cost, quality and access. We need to work together to help patients safely navigate these changes, so that we may continue to deliver the right drugs, at the right time, at affordable prices," Elliott told attendees.

In his keynote address, Elliott spoke about how the industry has evolved and delivered improvements to patient health over the past several decades. In the coming years as more than 30 million patients join the health system, there will be a greater focus on providing higher quality care for patients while increasing value.

"While we may not all agree on each provision of the health care reform law, there are many provisions encouraging better outcomes and better cost management for our patients and clients," said Elliott. "There is an enormous potential to close gaps in care in our country. Whether the potential is realized will depend to a significant degree on how well we do helping patients access and stick to their medications, while managing costs."

Delivered to an audience of pharmaceutical manufacturers and other industry experts, Elliott's speech was the meeting's opening keynote address. The first-annual Managed Markets Educational Forum brings together leaders in the pharmaceutical and pharmacy benefits industries to discuss essential PBM, specialty pharmacy and payer issues.

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.

SOURCE Prime Therapeutics