RainTree Oncology Services Announces Service Agreement With Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- RainTree Oncology Services (RainTree Oncology), a privately-held provider of oral oncologic drug acquisition and management services, today announced it has signed a service agreement with Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy (Diplomat), the nation's largest privately-owned specialty pharmacy providing medication management and clinical services. The agreement will enable the Company to provide community oncology practices with better access to crucial oral oncology drugs, clinical programs and adherence-enhancing medication management programs.

"Diplomat is not only one of the nation's largest dispensers of many oral oncolytics, such as Revlimid and Zytiga, but also brings impressive oncology-specific programs and data collection capabilities," said Mike Martin, president and chief executive officer of RainTree Oncology. "Their resources align with our physician centric, patient focused initiative to provide important data to community oncology practices. This will enable our customers to better support cancer care through analysis of cancer patient compliance, adherence and outcomes."

"We are honored to be chosen by Raintree to be their specialty pharmacy partner," said Phil Hagerman, Diplomat's president and chief executive officer.  "Working in close partnership with Raintree will facilitate enhanced services to Raintree physicians and improved outcomes for their patients. This model will secure access to complex oral oncolytics as well as implement drug-specific algorithms that will help mimic clinical trial efficacy."            

In the United States, community oncologists provide care for the majority of cancer patients. Increasingly, changes in healthcare economics are impacting how these practices operate, putting pressure on their ability to deliver essential services to their patients. Oral drug acquisition and management can be particularly problematic as the drugs are expensive and often are not fully reimbursed.

RainTree Oncology is building a network of community oncologists through which members will obtain pharmaceuticals at contracted prices - a savings that could be passed onto the patient or used to enhance patient services. In addition, RainTree Oncology will facilitate the implementation of in-practice pharmacies for practices that do not have one, providing an added convenience for patients and a key source of information for physicians.

Using technology tools provided by RainTree, practice pharmacists will be able to track both the prescribing and fulfillment of oral oncology medications in practices, as well as patient utilization of these drugs. Practice physicians and administrators can then use the information to elevate practice care and improve operations.

About RainTree Oncology Services
RainTree Oncology Services provides leading-edge oral drug acquisition and management services that make a difference in the lives of cancer patients by helping community oncology practices expand services and improve patient care, enhancing the economic model of community oncology practices and pioneering an integrated information network between physicians, payors and manufacturers to advance state of the art in oral oncology. RainTree Oncology is physician centric, patient focused and community minded. For more information about RainTree Oncology Services: www.raintreeoncology.com.

About Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy
Michigan-based Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, founded in 1975, serves patients nationwide as the country's largest privately held Specialty Pharmacy and focuses on complete medication management programs for patients with serious and chronic conditions. Diplomat creates unique programs with specialty distribution at retail focusing on improving adherence and the patient experience, as well as creating exclusive distribution models for its pharmaceutical partners. Learn more about Keeping Patients Healthier…Longer® at www.diplomatpharmacy.com

SOURCE RainTree Oncology Services