The Center for Health Value Innovation Announces New Member: Pro Pharma Pharmaceutical Consultants, Inc. Focuses on New Evidence of Value-Based Decisions

Business Wire, Nov 17, 2008

ST. LOUIS -- Pro Pharma Pharmaceutical Consultants, Inc. (www.propharmaconsultants.com), a pharmaceutical consultant organization focusing on data analytics and as a new member of the Industry Allies Board of The Center for Health Value Innovation (www.vbhealth.org), today released the results of a three year initiative that demonstrates a powerful link between value-based benefit health designs, improved quality healthcare, and lower cost trends.

Center president and executive director Cyndy Nayer states, "The Pro Pharma Initiative results regarding quality management speak volumes, linking the provider/physician with the benefit design and patient engagement."

The Quality Management Program[TM] for a Multi-Company Coalition of Coal/Energy employers, conducted by Dr. Craig Stern, president of Pro Pharma, was implemented to measure performance improvement of the mean for a targeted group of physicians, numbering more than 3,900 in 6 of the key states driving healthcare costs, and who controlled 85 percent of the drug spend. They discovered that Best-in-Class (BIC) doctors cost approximately one-fifth less than non-BIC doctors, and use half as many prescriptions. Additionally, BIC physicians use the same drugs and treat the same conditions as non-BIC physicians -- but are more judicious in drug choice and use less expensive alternatives.

The Initiative utilizes a series of specific steps in the quality management approach, as follows:

* education leads to behavior modification

* problem identification leads to lower variance in care

* feedback on performance leads to lower inter-M.D. variance

* educational detailing, which is evidence-based and patient/physician-specific leads to higher minimum standards and improved quality of care

* appropriate prescribing utilization leads to improvement in care and lower cost trend downstream

"The Pro Pharma team is proficient in systems analysis, programming, and data analysis," Nayer adds. "We continue to attract the Best-In-Class innovators who use disruptive thinking to change the design and outcomes, then share their best practices with our community. We're honored to have Craig and Carol Stern and their Pro Pharma team on board as part of the Center."

Member inquiries: www.vbhealth.org or cyndyn@vbhealth.org.

About The Center for Health Value Innovation

Launched in 2007, The Center for Health Value Innovation is a not-for-profit (501c3) organization representing industry stakeholders committed to sharing the evidence that value-based health designs improve health status and reduce health cost inflation. Visit www.vbhealth.org.

About Pro Pharma Pharmaceutical Consultants, Inc.

Pro Pharma Pharmaceutical Consultants, Inc. is known for over 22 years for our data analytical expertise nationwide. Our services and capabilities are sought after by clients, consultants, and government entities. Consulting services are grounded in the use of data and the communication of that information to define benefit trends, drivers and other analytical indicators. Visit www.propharmaconsultants.com.