Avella Lowers Cost of Specialty Drugs for Patients

Avella Specialty Pharmacy announced today that in 2012 its staff helped patients receive more than $7.2 million in financial assistance. Extensively trained Avella representatives work with patients to secure funding to cover their specialty medication costs.

"Our goal at Avella is for patients to avoid having to make a financial choice between their medications and other necessities," said Eric Sredzinski, PharmD, vice president of clinical affairs. "Our team is uniquely skilled at securing funds to offset patient medication costs. Providing this unexpected service to patients helps lessen their stress and gives them peace of mind as they go through a difficult journey."

The cost of many specialty medications is often prohibitive, even for patients with health insurance. With monthly copays in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars, many patients cannot afford their specialty medications. Leveraging strong working relationships with foundations and manufacturers that offer financial assistance, Avella's financial team members help patients navigate through the application and enrollment process, improving patient access to these financial resources.

Avella's financial assistance team members act as primary advocates with payors. They become the dedicated go-between for each patient with health insurance companies. The team has extensive training in assisting underinsured patients to minimize their out-of-pocket costs. They work to quickly secure financial assistance on many specialty medications.

A leader in the specialty pharmacy industry, Avella's enhanced clinical management programs educate and empower patients, enhance patient adherence, promote regular communications with providers and reduce costs at every opportunity.

About Avella Specialty Pharmacy

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Avella Specialty Pharmacy (formerly operating as The Apothecary Shops) is a National Accredited Specialty Pharmacy, providing individualized care and support to patients since 1996. Avella's clinical pharmacists and staff members are experts in managing complex disease states and providing compassionate care. The company offers a nationwide distribution service to complement its retail locations. Avella reached 1,064th on Inc. magazine's list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the country, up more than 500 places from 2011. In addition, The Arizona Corporate Excellence Awards has named Avella as the fastest-growing private company based in the state. For more information, please visit Avella.com.

SOURCE Avella Specialty Pharmacy