PMSI-Tmesys Launches Arkos Risk Management System(TM); New Program Predicts Potential Drug-Related Risks in Workers' Compensation Claims; Provides Early Intervention with Prescribers and Manages Utilization.

TAMPA, Fla. -- PMSI-Tmesys(R), a leading provider of workers' compensation pharmacy and management services, has introduced an innovative approach to helping payors control medication costs and enhance patient care. The Arkos Risk Management System(TM), a prospective drug utilization review, risk modeling and pharmacy intervention program, guards patient safety while targeting pharmacy cost drivers at their most significant sources -- drug mix and treating physician.

"Arkos takes us well beyond standard drug regimen reviews to actually help manage utilization," said Nick Page, PharmD vice president of clinical services and business development for PMSI-Tmesys.

Using Arkos (a term stemming from the Greek "to know") PMSI-Tmesys clinical pharmacists can identify the probability of adverse drug reactions and alert physicians and payors so that care can be modified before problems occur.

Through an intuitive, computerized, multi-step, screening process, Arkos evaluates each patient's drug and medical history to assess risk status. "It screens each patient record through a series of risk indicators such as age, gender, multiple providers or diagnosis, and then assigns a risk score to each individual to highlight high-risk claims," Page explained. "Our clinicians analyze the data to spot cases that could present future medical complications and/or those that should be directed into early case management for closer monitoring. The information is communicated to the payor and an intervention program is recommended.

Arkos identifies drug utilization issues before they spiral into larger, more expensive health care problems. For example, the Arkos system could flag a patient record of an injured worker who showed risk factors for heart problems and who was taking medication that could heighten the chances of a heart attack or stroke.

"Our clinicians would then work with the doctor to point out the risks and potentially avert a catastrophic incident that would dramatically increase the cost of the claim to the payor," Page added.

Helping to prevent dangerous drug reactions is just one of the many ways Arkos reduces risk exposure for payors. Targeting utilization and costs, Arkos produces savings by helping to eliminate duplicative drugs and recommending replacement of medications that are not appropriate to the claim's diagnosis with more efficacious choices. It also averts addiction by identifying multiple prescriptions from different providers, over-utilization and patients who are at risk for becoming involved in drug abuse.

While most drug regimen reviews are conducted for a single patient at a time and usually after the fact, Arkos enables PMSI-Tmesys to pro-actively evaluate hundreds, even thousands of patient profiles, serving as an early alert system. "Essentially, Arkos provides payors with actionable data so they can better understand and control their drug spend," Page said.

The system compiles prescription information from all available sources, including the company's retail pharmacy network, mail service and bill review. Payors using the program receive regular reports, and can also access a number of online tools in the risk management program at any time to drill down into diagnosis codes, determine the top medications dispensed and analyze drug trending so they can better manage their business, as well as forecast case reserves.

The over-arching goal is to improve patient health outcomes and contain costs without compromising care. The Arkos Risk Management System is available on a fee-for-service basis from PMSI-Tmesys. For more information on the program, contact Nick Page at 813-318-6770.

About PMSI-Tmesys

Formed in 1976 and based in Tampa, Fla., PMSI-Tmesys is the one of the nation's leading providers of cost-containment solutions for pharmacy and specialty services in the workers' compensation and catastrophic injury markets. Both PMSI and Tmesys revolutionized the workers' compensation industry from their inception, introducing the first programs of their kind. PMSI was the first workers' compensation provider to offer a single-source concept for pharmacy, medical equipment and specialty services. Tmesys, the company's retail PBM, pioneered the first cardless, online PPO built specifically for workers' compensation and its complexities. Today, PMSI-Tmesys processes over 4 million pharmacy and specialty services transactions annually for injured workers. For more information, visit http://www.pmsionline.com or call 877-275-7674.