Avella Named Preferred Vendor by the Association for Community Affiliated Plans

PRESS RELEASE

February 25, 2015, Phoenix, AZ: Avella Specialty Pharmacy announced today that it has received Preferred Vendor Status through the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP). ACAP is a national trade association representing 59 nonprofit safety net plans in 24 states. These plans serve nearly 12 million enrollees, representing more than 50 percent of individuals enrolled in Medicaid-focused health plans.

The ACAP Preferred Vendor program provides access to pre-qualified organizations in specific areas of interest to ACAP plans and their members. All vendors must first be sponsored by an ACAP plan and this recommendation is reviewed and approved by the association’s board members and its plan representatives. Avella received approval and has been designated as a Preferred Vendor in the area of specialty pharmacy services.

Avella’s dedication to providing premier patient support and education makes the organization an ideal fit for ACAP’s plans and the individuals they serve. The pharmacy’s highly trained pharmacists and support staff have deep clinical expertise and experience working with Medicaid members. These professionals take a holistic approach to understanding each patient’s unique needs including health, emotional and lifestyle issues. Avella’s pharmacists are available to patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“We are pleased to welcome Avella to ACAP’s community of plan-approved Preferred Vendors,” said Margaret A. Murray, CEO of ACAP. “Costs and quality associated with specialty pharmacy services are an area of growing concern for our members and Avella’s experience in managing these issues make them a valuable addition to this program.”

Avella’s expertise in improving medication adherence through technology-enabled resources and patient support may also be of particular interest to Medicaid plans. Medication non-adherence is a serious, widespread issue that impacts clinical outcomes and contributes to rising healthcare costs. Medicaid members frequently face barriers to adherence including cultural, education, health literacy and transportation issues.

“Avella is honored to be designated as an approved vendor through this important program,” said Nathan Downhour, Pharm. D. and Avella’s Executive Vice President for Strategic Programs. “Our experience collaborating with payers and providers, as well as our dedication to providing exceptional care to patients, will allow us to support ACAP plans as they work to improve the health of underserved populations.”

About Avella Specialty Pharmacy

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Avella Specialty Pharmacy 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 1,772th on Inc. magazine's 2014 list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the country. In addition, the Arizona Corporate Excellence Awards has named Avella Specialty Pharmacy as the fastest-growing private company based in the state. For more information, please visit www.avella.com.