HealthPartners receives national pharmacy award

Hepatitis C program results in better and more affordable health outcomes and improved experience

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — HealthPartners is one of six organizations nationwide to receive an Excellence Award in care management strategies from the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute (PBMI). The award honors the medication optimization program at HealthPartners. The program has helped improve care for Hepatitis C patients.

“At HealthPartners, we’re dedicated to supporting the best possible health for our members. Through this program, we can help members better manage their existing conditions. At the same time, we can make sure they are getting the best, most affordable treatment results possible,” said Scott Schnuckle, Senior Vice President, Pharmacy and Business Development at HealthPartners. “We’re honored to have these efforts receive national recognition.”

New Hepatitis C medications offer very high cure rates and other important outcomes, but also come with a high price tag. Correct use is needed to ensure they work as expected and lower health care costs. That’s where the medication optimization team at HealthPartners can help.

The team includes Pharmacy Navigators and Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Pharmacists. Together, they make sure patients are on the right medicine for them and take it correctly with no gaps in care. Sometimes that includes helping them find help to pay for their medicines.

Pharmacy Navigators also support medication use. They look at reports and claims and make daily or weekly outreach calls. HealthPartners members work with the same Pharmacy Navigator throughout their treatment. The personalized approach helps make sure that each member’s care plan is followed. As a result of this program, nearly all Hepatitis C patients now follow their prescribed medication routine and achieve cures.

“Our excellence award recipients have designed proven solutions to address numerous challenges in prescription drug programs,” said Jane Lutz, Executive Director of PBMI. “We are thrilled to recognize HealthPartners for their great work in the area of Hepatitis C and the positive outcomes they have achieved with their members through this program.”