Option Care achieves perfect URAC score

BANNOCKBURN, Ill. ­- Option Care, a national home infusion provider, recently earned accreditation from URAC Specialty Pharmacy for its corporate offices and its three specialty pharmacy centers of excellence.

As if the recognition wasn't impressive enough, the Illinois-based company aced the accreditation process, receiving a perfect score from URAC, an independent, non-profit organization that uses evidence-based measures and standards for accreditation. The score applies to all specialty areas, including immunoglobulin, bleeding disorders, enzymes and infliximab.

Brenda Wright, vice president of clinical services, said Option Care executives were confident about the company's chances of securing URAC accreditation, but the perfect score was a much-appreciated affirmation of its operations.

“We took their standards and looked at what do we already have in place that meets those standards. We didn't try to focus standards into our operations. They're already embedded in what we do,” Wright said. “I think what they saw is those quality programs as a part of what we do every day.”

The recognition signifies Option Care meets stringent performance and accuracy standards for dispensing prescriptions, protecting consumer health information and ensuring patient satisfaction, among other requirements.

URAC accreditation was a process that took several months and included site visits to corporate headquarters and the pharmacy centers in Chicago, Los Angeles and Panama City, Fla. Option Care had to show evidence of adhering to URAC standards through forms, policies and procedures. Although the URAC accreditation was voluntary, Wright said it's increasingly expected as the norm.

“We established about two years ago that quality was going to be No. 1 for the organization and that was how we were going to differentiate,” she added. “Many payers who reimburse for specialty drugs ask if you are accredited. I think more and more are going to require it.”