CIGNA Pharmacy Management (CPM) recently
announced that it has been certified by HR
Policy Association (HR Policy) for demonstrating
that it has met, and is committed to continuing
to meet or exceed, HR Policy's pharmaceutical
contracting principles. The certification
provides HR Policy members with the most
rigorous level of drug purchasing transparency
available in the marketplace.
HR Policy's Pharmaceutical Purchasing Coalition,
which is made up of more than 50 large employers
who purchase pharmacy benefits for more than
five million Americans, develops these principles
each year as part of their Transparency in
Pharmaceutical Purchasing Solutions (TIPPS)
initiative. This year's additions to the
principles include new requirements for Pharmacy
Benefits Managers (PBMs) on specialty pharmacy
products.
In announcing the certification, Dave Shafer,
president of CPM, said, "CIGNA is pleased
that HR Policy has recognized our ongoing
commitment to transparency. CPM's consultative
approach provides our customers with useful
information to help them achieve a meaningful
cost advantage while providing their health
plan participants access to excellent pharmacy
benefits coverage."
"We look forward to the day when all
PBMs fully embrace transparency, especially
when health care in the United States is
placing more responsibility on consumers
to make wise purchasing decisions," said
Jeffrey C. McGuiness, president of HR Policy
Association. CIGNA is one of ten HR Policy
Certified PBMs this year.
The TIPPS standards, which Shafer notes
are consistent with CPM's ongoing business
strategy, help customers and members achieve
lower costs for quality pharmacy benefits,
making it easier for employers, their beneficiaries
and dependents to understand the true price
of a drug. TIPPS standards are designed to
ensure pharmacy benefit services are structured
to encourage the use of more cost-effective,
clinically appropriate drugs.
CIGNA Pharmacy Management (CPM) refers
to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA
Corporation (NYSE: CI). Products and services
are provided by these subsidiaries and not
by CIGNA Corporation. These subsidiaries
include Connecticut General Life Insurance
Company, Tel-Drug, Inc., Tel-Drug of Pennsylvania,
L.L.C., and HMO or service company subsidiaries
of CIGNA Health Corporation.
