Prescription medication at lower costs for Oregon state agency employees

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