Apexus Board Provides Challenge Grant to Support PSPC Alliance

IRVING, Texas, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Apexus, the government's prime vendor for the 340B program, today announced that they will provide a $250,000 challenge grant to support the Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative Alliance (the Alliance).

The PSPC (the Collaborative), created by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is a breakthrough effort to improve the quality of health care across America by integrating evidence-based clinical pharmacy services into the care and management of high-risk, high-cost, complex patients. The Alliance is a nonprofit corporation working to expand, extend and accelerate the work of the Collaborative.

"Apexus has been a key partner in the work of the Alliance and this challenge grant provides us with a great opportunity to engage new partners who share our commitment to increased patient safety and improved health outcomes through the integration of clinical pharmacy services into a primary health home," said William Ellis, President of the Alliance.

For patients with chronic disease conditions, lack of coordinated care across health care providers – primary care physicians, specialists, pharmacies and emergency departments – negatively affects the safety and quality of the care they receive. Medications are crucial to managing chronic conditions, and care that does not involve a pharmacist can lead to medication errors and adverse drug events. Adverse drug events are a leading cause of death and injury in the United States. Studies show that clinical pharmacy services improve adherence and medication use, and prevent adverse drug events.

"The Alliance is a natural partner for us because of their focus on the integration of quality clinical pharmacy services into a patient-centered health care," said Christopher Hatwig, Vice President at Apexus. "Apexus supports the 340B Drug Pricing Program, a Federal program that requires drug manufacturers to provide outpatient drugs to eligible safety-net health organizations at a reduced price to ensure patient access to medications, a key component of clinical pharmacy services and the continuum of care."

"Our Board believes in the mission of the Alliance and we challenge other health care organizations to join us in our support of the Alliance," said Hatwig.

About The Alliance

The Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative Alliance (the Alliance) is a nonprofit corporation working to expand, extend and accelerate the work of the Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative (the Collaborative), a breakthrough effort to improve the quality of health care across America by integrating evidence-based clinical pharmacy services into the care and management of high-risk, high-cost, complex patients. The Alliance is working to build partnerships with other stakeholders who share a commitment to increased patient safety and improved health outcomes through the integration of clinical pharmacy services into a primary health home. The goal of the Alliance is to expand the Collaborative to 3,000 communities nationwide. The Alliance's founding organizations include the American Association of College Pharmacists, the American Nurses Association, the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and Apexus – the 340B/Prime Vendor Program.

About Apexus

Founded in 2007, Apexus Inc., a nonprofit corporation, is the HRSA's Office of Pharmacy Affairs awarded contractor to serve as the prime vendor for the 340B Program. Based in Irving, Texas, the prime vendor's role is to secure sub-ceiling discounts on outpatient drug purchases and discounts on other pharmacy related products and services for participating public hospitals, community health centers, and other safety-net health care providers electing to join the program. For more information on Apexus, visit www.340Bpvp.com.

SOURCE Apexus