AscellaHealth, a specialty pharmacy benefit manager (SPBM), serving commercial, Medicare and Medicaid segments, announces the release of its white paper, “Specialty Drug Expertise: Creating Value in the Changing Specialty Pharmacy Market” authored by Dea Belazi, president and CEO. Highlighting specialty pharmaceuticals as the fastest growing segment of the pharmaceutical industry, the paper explores how specialty drugs dominate new drug development and the role of AscellaHealth in working with specialty pharmacies to manage drug benefits, lower costs, and improve the quality of healthcare.

“Specialty pharmacy focuses on high cost, high touch medication therapy for patients with complex disease states, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and rare genetic conditions,” says Belazi. “We want to put a spotlight on the complexity of these treatment regimens, the typically high cost of these drugs – at $1,000 or more per month -- and the impact of a volatile regulatory climate on the pharmacy benefit management industry. Our commitment to patients is steadfast: get people the drugs they need at a price they can afford, relying on our vast resources to negotiate on behalf of insurers and customers.”

He adds that specialty drugs are often more intricate than traditional medications because of the narrow therapeutic window and cost, and pharmacies are held to a higher standard to maintain patient-centered care.

“Going well beyond the limitations of a pharmacy benefit manager, AscellaHealth is a specialty-focused pharmaceutical management company that helps to address the complex health challenges associated with chronic or rare diseases.” Belazi concludes.

The specialty niche in pharmacy represents approximately 30 percent of all prescriptions sold and is expected to reach 50 percent over the next three years. By 2020, growth trajectories in specialty spending are estimated to quadruple, resulting in $400 billion annually.

About AscellaHealth
AscellaHealth, a specialty pharmacy benefit manager (SPBM), serving commercial, Medicare and Medicaid segments, offers high quality prescription drug benefit management services. Complemented by other customizable services, such as carved-out specialty pharmacy services and cost-savings programs, AscellaHealth provides a unique, proprietary service portfolio. Visit www.ascellahealth.com.