Ventegra Announces the Successful Implementation of the New Ventegra Specialty Inclusion (VSI) Program
May 01 2024 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
VSI Program Utilizes Ventegra’s Clinical
Infrastructure to Develop and Maintain an Evidence-Based Approach
to Evaluating New Drugs for Formulary Inclusion
Ventegra, Inc., a Medical Benefit Manager (MBM) that delivers
innovative, cost-efficient pharmaceutical and healthcare solutions
to payors, providers, and members, today announced the successful
implementation of the Ventegra Specialty Inclusion (VSI) program to
maintain broad access for payors, providers, and members to
beneficial medications at an affordable cost.
The VSI program underscores Ventegra’s clinical infrastructure
and heritage as a company managed and operated predominantly by
healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and certified pharmacy
technicians.
Mark Shinmoto, Pharm.D., Chief Pharmacy Officer, says, “The
Ventegra Specialty Inclusion (VSI) program’s capability is a vital
and important new tool in Ventegra’s ability to appropriately
manage the utilization of the plethora of drugs being brought to
market. It allows us to ensure that drugs with sufficient clinical
effectiveness data (e.g., drugs that will be useful to the
population served in actual practice) are available for members and
payors.”
Explains Dr. Shinmoto, “This mitigates the probability of
members being prescribed drugs with limited evidence of benefit,
while we continue to gather information on these products for
clinical value.”
In addition, a key benefit of the VSI program is its guidance to
the pharmaceutical industry to provide evidence of clinical
effectiveness. The FDA’s initial drug approval process is based on
evidence of safety and efficacy and lacks the key findings of
clinical effectiveness.
Robert T. Taketomo, Pharm.D., MBA, President/CEO, explains, “The
Ventegra Specialty Inclusion program reflects the clinical focus of
Ventegra and our deep commitment to member care and managed care
principles. Our MBM solution provides a rational and alternative
approach to managing prescription drugs that doesn’t automatically
add every drug brought to market for coverage and expense to a
payor’s benefit program.”
Adds Dr. Taketomo, “Our unique societal perspective on
healthcare as we continue our transition into a nonprofit entity
ensures that our stakeholders and community that we serve receives
the right balance of access to medications, quality of care and
cost. Our approach strives to maintain broad access to
beneficial medications at an affordable cost for our members and
payors. It is a difficult balance that is a core strength of
Ventegra.”
Ventegra remains the only Medical Benefit Manager that is
transitioning into a nonprofit structure to ensure sustainability
for the community it serves. It is managed and operated largely by
pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with a focus on providing
an evidence-based approach to prescription drug coverage in both
medical and pharmacy benefit programs. Unlike most traditional
pharmacy benefit managers, Ventegra does not have any fiduciary
commitment to shareholders and exists to serve and benefit its
community.
For more information, please contact Dr. Shinmoto at
mark@ventegra.org.
About Ventegra, Inc.
Ventegra, Inc. is the legacy Ventegra that is dedicated to
servicing Ventegra Foundation. A complex transition process has
begun, and over time, Ventegra, Inc.’s mission will be fully
assumed by Ventegra Foundation. www.ventegra.com
About Ventegra Foundation
Ventegra Foundation is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit
Corporation. Its mission is to establish new channels for
delivering better efficiencies and more cost-effective healthcare
for the community that is served. Ventegra Foundation is expected
to be fully operational by June 30, 2024. www.ventegra.com
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Peggy C. Frank, MBA Director, Marketing and Public Relations
peggy@ventegra.org 818-642-6804