ACHC Launches First Distinction in Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs

ACHC Launches First Distinction in Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs

Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) continues to expand its offerings in Specialty Pharmacy services with the launch of the industry’s first Distinction in Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs. ACHC’s team of pharmacy experts collaborated with industry leader PANTHERx to develop standards that address challenges of the growing demands for complex medications to treat patients with rare diseases and devastating medical conditions.

“The development of this distinction demonstrates the shared commitment of ACHC and PANTHERx to elevating patient care and safety,” said Jon Pritchett, ACHC Program Director. “Rare pharmacy has evolved into a fast-growing subset of specialty pharmacy that requires a special knowledge and skill set as diverse as the patients being served. This distinction allows specialty pharmacies to demonstrate that they are uniquely qualified to provide patients with access to this critical subset of medication.”

The ACHC Distinction in Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs encompasses processes and procedures necessary to bring medications for rare diseases into market from FDA approval to patient management, employee education, and medication handling and dispensing. 

“Drugs with an orphan status often have stringent handling requirements, patient and pharmacy education needs, requirements for manufacturer feedback, and advanced patient support to ensure proper delivery, use, and monitoring of the drugs and treatment outcomes,” Pritchett said. “Specialty pharmacies that provide medications for patients with rare diseases go above and beyond what is typically required to deliver pharmacy services. ACHC understands these special demands. Attaining our distinction is a way for pharmacies to be recognized for the advanced patient care they are capable of providing.”

ACHC recently granted the nation’s first Distinction in Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs to PANTHERx. The distinction acknowledges PANTHERx’s pioneering efforts in the rare pharmacy market and enhances its commitment to provide a customized approach to patient care.

“PANTHERx is honored to be the first nationally accredited pharmacy with a rare pharmacy distinction.  We are proud of our collaborative and developmental efforts with ACHC, which help to define the rare pharmacy industry that PANTHERx Rare is pioneering,” said Dr. Gordon Vanscoy, Chairman and CEO of PANTHERx and RareMed Solutions (www.raremed.com). 

“Rare disorder patients deserve an accredited pharmacy subspecialty that provides comprehensive management services that are patient-centric, focus on collaboration with partners and prescribers, utilize validated shipping solutions, customize reporting processes, and demonstrate clinical excellence,” Vanscoy said. “This unique ACHC distinction is a public acknowledgement of the importance of pharmacy quality in ensuring that rare disorder patients receive the best care. I encourage other qualified pharmacies to partake in this new ACHC process and uphold the quality standards necessary to advance rare pharmacy and care for people living with rare diseases.”

PANTHERx Rare Pharmacy, The Rare Disease Specialty Pharmacy®, aims to transform lives by delivering medical breakthroughs, clinical excellence, and access solutions to patients afflicted with rare and devastating conditions. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, PANTHERx works to develop focused solutions, bold innovations, and novel clinical services associated with the life-transforming therapies that it delivers.

As a recognized industry leader, ACHC offers a broad suite of pharmacy compliance solutions, including accreditation programs for Specialty, Infusion, Long-Term Care, and Sterile/Non-Sterile Compounding services. In addition to the new Distinction in Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs, companies seeking to distinguish themselves within the pharmacy market also can obtain distinctions from ACHC in Oncology, Infectious Disease Specific to HIV, Nutrition Support, and Hazardous Drug Handling. Pharmacies seeking accreditation with a Distinction in Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs must have ACHC Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation. 

ACHC is a nonprofit accreditation organization that has stood as a symbol of quality and excellence since 1986. The organization has CMS deeming authority for Home Health, Hospice, Renal Dialysis, and DMEPOS, in addition to a Quality Management System that is certified to ISO 9001:2015. ACHC is the provider’s choice for accreditation because of its personal Account Advisors, relevant and realistic standards, competitive pricing, and a friendly, educational approach to accreditation. Accreditation by ACHC reflects an organization’s dedication and commitment to meeting standards that facilitate a higher level of performance and patient care.

For more information on ACHC Accreditation programs and services, or to download ACHC Accreditation Standards, visit www.achc.org, email customerservice@achc.org, or call (855) 937-2242.