AscellaHealth Awards Walmart Preferred Status for Home Infusion Pharmacy Network

AscellaHealth is pleased to announce that we have chosen Walmart as one of our pharmacies for preferred status within our Home Infusion Pharmacy Network. This comes as part of our Site of Care Optimization (SOC) initiative, which is especially timely during this era of change and uncertainty that is often synonymous with the healthcare industry. Strategies that cut costs without compromising quality of care are highly sought after by all third-party payers. SOC is one of the top proven strategies for reducing the cost of specialty biologic medications and encourages patients to move from higher-cost settings, like big hospitals and institutions, to lower-cost settings, such as physician’s in-office infusion suites or stand-alone infusion centers. Insurance companies and self-insured companies have been moving forward with SOC optimization policies that are driving patients out of the hospital setting.

“By selecting Walmart for preferred status, AscellaHealth is taking a step forward to implement this strategy and help its clients to manage the high costs of specialty medication,” says Dea Belazi, president and CEO, AscellaHealth. “Walmart exemplifies this initiative to increase care accessibility by encouraging the use of clinically appropriate, lower-cost care settings. We look forward to working with Walmart’s Specialty Pharmacy.” The goals are to: • Improve drug affordability for beneficiaries • Increase price transparency • Reduce disparities in quality of care and safety across care settings • Enable care delivery in the highest-quality, lowest-cost care setting

“We choose pharmacy providers with national reach, high-touch capabilities and thorough home infusion expertise,” continues Belazi.

Aleata Postell, senior director, Specialty Market Insights, Walmart Health & Wellness, states, “As part of Walmart’s mission to provide accessible and affordable care to our communities, we are excited to work with AscellaHealth as a preferred infusion partner for our specialty pharmacy operations. AscellaHealth shares our commitment to improving outcomes for patients and by working together, we can help to improve care for Walmart customers who have complex conditions.”

Choosing a home infusion service provider with high-quality standards can make a difference in whether a patient has a positive or negative response to treatment. In addition, a smooth transition of care based on advanced planning will improve outcomes and control costs.