Rochester Drug Cooperative and Aureus Health Services Announce the Launch of a Specialty Pharmacy Management Program for Independent Retail Pharmacies

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Feb 05, 2015, 02:00 ET

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Rochester Drug Cooperative (RDC), a leading regional pharmaceutical wholesaler, and Aureus Health Services, a national specialty pharmacy and health management company, today announced a first of its kind specialty pharmacy services program available to RDC's independent, community pharmacy customers. Aureus will provide specialty pharmacy management services to RDC customer pharmacies to support the needs of their specialty patients and physicians. The private-labeled program will operate under the name Quality Care Specialty Pharmacy Program and will provide community pharmacies with the support and expertise needed to service patients who utilize specialty medications. These drugs are typically expensive, require special handling and are used to treat complex conditions such as Cancer, Crohn's & Colitis, Multiple Sclerosis, Hepatitis-C, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and other diseases.

Specialty drugs make up the fastest growing segment in the pharmacy industry and by 2018 are expected to exceed 50% of total drug spend compared to around 35% today. The Quality Care Specialty Pharmacy Program has been designed to allow patients the choice of picking up their specialty prescriptions from their local community pharmacy, the same pharmacy that is providing their traditional prescriptions for more common conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension amongst others.

"The Quality Care Specialty Pharmacy Program provides a much-needed solution for our independent pharmacy customers by providing them the ability to service patients taking specialty prescriptions," said Larry Doud, CEO, RDC, "Up until now many pharmacies had to turn away patients because they were not equipped with the infrastructure and internal resources to manage specialty medications. Now the pharmacies are able to navigate the complex process associated with filling a specialty drug, enabling them to retain the customers that they are already servicing."

"Aureus is excited to be RDC's partner in this important initiative", said Michael Nameth, CEO of Aureus Health Services, "the Quality Care Specialty Pharmacy Program will help get patients started on their drug therapy more quickly, provide financial assistance to those patients in need and better educate them on their therapies, resulting in improved medication adherence and outcomes."

The program is immediately available to all RDC customers with stores located throughout New York State, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Eastern Ohio, Southern Connecticut and currently expanding to other areas.

About RDC: The Rochester Drug Cooperative (RDC) is a full line, full service Wholesale Drug Company serving all of New York State, Pennsylvania and New Jersey and having coverage in Eastern Ohio and most of Connecticut. RDC is a co-operative company, formed in 1905 and owned by Independent Pharmacies that have purchased stock. At present there are approximately 250 shareholders. Stock ownership is not necessary to do business. RDC is presently the 8^th largest Wholesale Drug Company in the United States and the fastest growing. The company enjoys the reputation of offering service that cannot be beat by any competitors. For additional information go to www.RDCDrug.com

About Aureus Health Services: Aureus Health Services is a national specialty pharmacy and health management company with over 20 years of experience assisting patients, families, and medical professionals to cope with and treat a wide range of chronic health conditions. Aureus is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and operates facilities located in New York, New Jersey, Missouri and Pennsylvania. For additional information, visit www.aureushealthservices.com