URAC, the Washington, D.C.-based independent accreditor of health care management organizations, is asking for input to the proposed standards by Dec. 1. URAC is introducing the standards for a new accreditation program with the goal to promote industry best practices, encourage quality improvement, and protect and empower consumers.

Pharmacy benefit management is affecting more Americans than ever as employers and other purchasers implement new strategies to address the cost and quality of drug therapies. For purchasers, consumers and regulators, third party accreditation by URAC will provide an objective tool to use when evaluating a pharmacy benefits management vendor.

For example, URAC’s accreditation standards promote patient safety and assure access to needed drugs and pharmacies. The draft standards are designed to improve the consumer’s understanding of how these programs operate by establishing standard definitions, offering grievance and appeals due process and assuring that health plans and PBMs communicate effectively with consumers.

URAC is making the proposed standards available online at www.urac.org, along with an explanatory white paper, an issue brief, and easy-to-use feedback forms.

“Accreditation provides the assurance that what is provided to clients and their members meets industry-wide clinical and operational standards,” said Alan P. Spielman, URAC’s president and chief executive officer. “URAC brings a recognizable seal of quality to accredited organizations across a broad range of business models.”

The draft set of standards is designed for the commercially insured population. URAC plans to revise the standards following the public comment period, conduct “beta site” tests with a number of pharmacy benefit managers, and issue final standards in summer 2007.