Dec 22 2009
Public employees in the state of Oregon will soon have access to a wider
range of prescription medication at lower costs.
“The goal of
this partnership is to make prescription drugs more available and
affordable for teachers, public workers and other employees of the state
of Oregon. Leveraging the buying power of the 2,200 hospitals and 63,000
non-acute care facilities in the Premier alliance allows the OPDP to do
just that.”
Oregon-based public employees receiving prescription drugs as part of
their benefits program will have the opportunity to leverage the full
portfolio of Premier
Purchasing Partners pharmaceutical contracts, announced through the
addition of a new Premier group affiliate, the Oregon
Prescription Drug Program (OPDP).
Based in Portland, Ore., the OPDP and Wellpartner,
a nationally recognized provider of pharmacy distribution solutions for
health plans, Medicaid programs and safety-net organizations throughout
the country, initiated discussions with several healthcare group
purchasing organizations before selecting Premier Purchasing Partners, a
division of the Premier
healthcare alliance, a quality and cost improvement alliance.
“I was nothing short of delighted that Premier showed the same
enthusiasm that we have over this new business opportunity that will
save the state of Oregon money on its pharmacy programs,” said Missy
Dolan, OPDP administrator.
Said Premier Purchasing Partners President Mike Alkire, “The goal of
this partnership is to make prescription drugs more available and
affordable for teachers, public workers and other employees of the state
of Oregon. Leveraging the buying power of the 2,200 hospitals and 63,000
non-acute care facilities in the Premier alliance allows the OPDP to do
just that.”
In 2003, the Oregon Legislature authorized the formation of the OPDP, a
prescription drug purchasing pool, to help increase access to
prescription drugs by the uninsured and lower costs for state and city
governments to help them stay within budgeted goals. Earlier this year,
the state of Oregon passed historic health reform legislation, creating
the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The OHA is responsible for
streamlining and aligning state health purchasers and programs to
maximize efficiency, and organize state health policy and health
services. It is also responsible for implementing health reform policies
and programs.
Oregon Education Benefit Board employees will roll into the model first,
with other state agency employees following throughout 2010. In 2009,
the Oregon state employee pharmaceutical spend totaled approximately
$850 million.
Source Wellpartner Purchasing