For twelve years, Advanced Pharmacy Concepts (APC) has provided innovative support services addressing virtually all aspects of the pharmacy benefit programs, including auditing of pharmacy benefits, managing the relationship between our clients and their PBMs, RFP and implementation support, and clinical utilization review services. In addition, APC offers comprehensive consulting and drug management services pertaining to the use of pharmaceuticals in conjunction with medical benefit programs, including infusion therapies and specialty pharmaceuticals. APC’s clients include managed care organizations, self-insured employers, government entities, and physician practice organizations that operate under risk contracts with local managed care organizations.
APC works with clients on innovative approaches to providing pharmacy benefits. For example, we are helping organizations to shorten the supply chain from drug manufacturer to patient in order to minimize all the ‘middleman’ costs. We work with a major manufacturer that has multiple worksite pharmacies; we are currently working with another manufacturer to evaluate whether worksite pharmacies would be beneficial. APC is also currently working with a hospital system in Michigan to optimize the use of the hospital outpatient pharmacies for employee use. We believe that there is the potential for BCBSSC members to access discounted prescription pricing through use of the university clinic pharmacies in the context of the pharmacy benefit. We would explore regulations in more detail but feel that this would be an opportunity worth exploring.
With the growth of the company, APC has assembled a diverse and talented staff that is extremely knowledgeable in pharmacy benefit issues and PBM operational capabilities. This staff includes pharmacists with Doctor of Pharmacy level training, statisticians, financial analysts, attorneys, MBAs, and certified pharmacy technicians. The vast majority of APC’s staff has worked previously within the PBM industry, and all employees have previous experience in other sectors of the healthcare system.
APC has been recognized for the innovative services that we provide to clients, as well as for our commitment to our local community. Last summer, APC’s President, Dr. Kimberly McDonough, was named the Rhode Island Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year by the Federal Small Business Administration (SBA). In 2006, Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri named APC as the Minority Business Enterprise of the Year. The company was the very first recipient of the Innovations in Pharmaceutical Care Award sponsored by the Pharmacy Technician Certifications Board in cooperation with Baxter Laboratories. In 2003, the company was awarded the Elan Pharmaceutical’s Innovation in Pharmacy Practice Award from the Rhode Island Pharmacist Associations. In addition, Advanced Pharmacy Concepts has been recognized for its commitment to women in business by the Rhode Island Business and Professional Women’s Club and Fleet Bank.
Advanced Pharmacy Concepts is a certified woman and minority owned business in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts and is registered as a small and women-owned business in the Federal Central Contractor Registration. APC meets the small business set aside size standard for Federal government contracts. Furthermore, APC is compliant with Section 202 of Executive Order 11246 and Executive Order 1170 pertaining to equal employment opportunities and employment of Disabled and Vietnam Era veterans. APC holds a MOBIS contract with the General Services Administration.
Advanced Pharmacy Concepts serves as a teaching site to graduate students from the University of Rhode Island’s School of Pharmacy. Individuals from APC’s clinical and technical staff hold adjunct professor or visiting professor status at the University of Rhode Island, University of Connecticut, and Community College of Rhode Island.
Advanced Pharmacy Concepts promotes service to our local community by offering staff paid time off for community volunteer activities. Individuals from the company have actively participated in medical fund raising efforts within the state, volunteer service to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Amos House, and participation at local soup kitchens.
