Attorney General Madigan Awards $2.7 Million in Pharmaceutical Settlement Funds to Illinois Nonprofit Health Clinics

Rockford-Attorney General Lisa Madigan today awarded $2.7 million in settlement funds to 24 nonprofit health clinics throughout Illinois that will help purchase prescription drugs for low-income patients. The funds come from the settlements of consumer protection actions against Caremark Rx, LLC, and Medco Health Solutions, Inc. Attorney General Madigan made the announcement today in Rockford, where Crusader Central Clinic Association will receive $192,000 from the settlement funds to purchase discount generic drugs for uninsured patients.

“Low-income patients are increasingly vulnerable to rising health care costs,” Madigan said. “These grants will help to ensure that some of Illinois’ most vulnerable patients receive the prescription medications that they need.”

Both settlements stipulate that the money must be distributed to nonprofits that benefit low-income, disabled or elderly consumers of prescription medications, promote lower drug costs for state residents and educate consumers about the cost differences among medications. Attorney General Madigan awarded the grants to the following free clinics, federally qualified health clinics and rural health clinics:

Free Clinics
Abundant Health Resource Clinic-Carbondale	$50,000
Agape Care Team-Tampico	$125,000
Blessing Affiliates Community Outreach-Quincy	$75,000
Bridge Medical Clinic-Harrisburg	$50,000
Bureau County Health & Wellness Clinic-Princeton	$125,000
CommunityHealth-Chicago	$275,000
Community Health Care Clinic-Normal	$100,000
Community Nurse Health Association-LaGrange	$160,000
DuPage Community Clinic-Wheaton	$225,000
Family Health Partnership-Woodstock	$112,500
Hands of Hope Free Health Clinic-Marion	$116,000
Health Center of Eastern LaSalle County-Ottawa	$65,000
Health Reach Incorporated Community Clinic-Waukegan	$155,000
Morgan Scott Volunteer Health Clinic-Jacksonville	$75,000
St. Francis Community Clinic-Peoria	$130,000
The Ark-Chicago	$100,000
Tri-City Health Partnership- St. Charles	$85,000
Will-Grundy Medical Clinic-Joliet	$100,000
Federally Qualified Health Clinics
Crusader Central Clinic Association-Rockford	$192,000
Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation (6 clinics)-near East St. Louis	$200,000
Rural Health Clinics
Family Medical Center-Paris	$50,000
Graham Medical Group-Canton	$75,000
Thomas Boyd RHC-Carrollton	$25,000
Vermillion Area Community Health Center-Danville	$50,000

In the Caremark case, Madigan led a 28-state investigation of the company’s alleged deceptive drug-switching practices that resulted in an April 2008 agreement to pay $38.5 million to the states, including $1.2 million to Illinois. Caremark, which is one of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefits management (PBM) companies, processes prescription drug claims and negotiates pharmaceutical volume discounts for employer and government health plans. Medco is also a pharmacy benefits manager. Madigan’s lawsuit against Medco similarly alleged that the PBM encouraged physicians to switch their patients’ medications and made deceptive claims that the switch would result in significant consumer savings. The company agreed to pay $1.4 million to Illinois.

Division Chief Deborah Hagan and Assistant Attorney General Ryan Lipinski handled both cases for Madigan’s Consumer Protection Division.

Pharmaceutical Strategies Group Welcomes New Consulting Talent With Extensive Expertise

PLANO, TX - Pharmaceutical Strategies Group (PSG), a leading independent pharmacy benefits consultancy and the largest in the country, announced today the addition of four highly experienced consulting professionals with decades of pharmacy benefit management (PBM) experience: Steve Ashley; Kathryn Harris-Stephens, Kerri Miller, and Rob Noel.
"These new additions to PSG's staff further our commitment to having the broadest and deepest talent in the pharmacy benefit consulting business -- a key differentiator in the marketplace -- allowing our firm to continually sign world-class brands to our client base," said PSG's Principal, Dave Borden. "Steve, Kathryn, Kerri, and Rob align perfectly with our existing team of experts who possess in-depth PBM industry knowledge and are committed to delivering superior client service backed by a solid track record of proven results. Each year, PSG saves its clients hundreds of millions of dollars in pharmacy spend while fostering greater PBM accountability and improving operational efficiencies."
STEVE ASHLEY
Steve Ashley will serve as a Pharmacy Benefit Consultant. Mr. Ashley has more than 25 years of experience as a healthcare professional, with extensive experience in the PBM industry, public and private sector employee benefits, managed care, and Taft Hartley plans. Prior to joining PSG, he held management, consulting, and account executive positions with some of the nation's leading healthcare, PBM, and pharmacy benefit consulting companies, as well as 13 years as Benefits Manager for a large state employee health plan. Mr. Ashley holds a BS degree in health care administration from Wichita State University and holds a "Professional" designation from the Academy of Healthcare Management.
KATHRYN HARRIS-STEPHENS, MSHCM, PharmD
Kathryn Harris-Stephens will serve as a Pharmacy Benefit Consultant. Dr. Harris-Stephens is a seasoned pharmacy benefits consultant with extensive experience in providing services to national accounts, public-sector entities, and other payors providing healthcare benefits. Her extensive experience and understanding of the healthcare system from both a clinical and economic perspective uniquely qualifies her to anticipate and address the diverse pharmacy benefit needs of her clients. Prior to joining PSG, Dr. Harris-Stephens was with Aon Consulting after serving at Catalyst Rx as Executive Director of Clinical Services-Client Management. She holds an MS in Health Care Management and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Mercer University. She is also widely published in professional journals and is a member of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
KERRI MILLER, PharmD
Kerri Miller will also serve as a Pharmacy Benefit Consultant. Dr. Miller has more than 20 years of experience as a pharmacist, with extensive experience in the PBM industry, insurance carrier market, and direct clinical practice. Prior to joining PSG, she held several senior roles with top-tier pharmacy benefit management and carrier companies including serving as Vice President of Pharmacy Services for a two million life national health plan and, before that, as Sr. Director of Drug Evaluation and Clinical Education for Express Scripts, Inc. Dr. Miller has authored numerous scientific and management publications, is a frequent speaker at pharmacy industry forums, and is a member of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy. She holds a BS and Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Utah.
ROB NOEL
Rob Noel will serve as Practice Leader, Managed Care Markets. Mr. Noel is a seasoned health care professional with more than 30 years of experience in the PBM industry, data analytics, and employee benefits. Prior to joining PSG, he was Vice President of Sales for Express Scripts, Inc., one of the "Big Three" pharmacy benefit managers. Before this, he was President and COO for Practice Patterns Science, Inc., a company specializing in the integration techniques of medical and pharmacy claims data to identify and explain variations in physician treatment patterns. Rob holds a BS degree in economics and management from Centre College.