Medicine Shoppe International Agrees in Principle to Seek DMEPOS Accreditation from NABP

January 22, 2007 12:00 AM

Medicine Shoppe International, Inc has agreed in principle to seek National Association of Boards of Pharmacy^® (NABP^® ) accreditation for its pharmacies nationwide that supply durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).

“We congratulate Medicine Shoppe International for its proactive approach to meeting the new quality standards for DMEPOS suppliers,” said NABP President Lawrence H. Mokhiber, MS, RPh. “NABP accreditation will help Medicine Shoppe Pharmacies ensure that their patients receive the appropriate durable medical equipment and related services, while helping NABP and the state boards of pharmacy further their mission to protect the public health.”

Approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), NABP’s DMEPOS accreditation program services licensed pharmacies that provide a limited line of durable medical equipment. Under a final rule that CMS announced in August 2006, pharmacy suppliers will be required to meet CMS’ new quality standards and receive accreditation to be eligible for Medicare Part B reimbursement for DMEPOS products furnished to Medicare beneficiaries.

Medicine Shoppe International, Inc, a subsidiary of Cardinal Health Inc, has nearly 1,000 Medicine Shoppe^® Pharmacies in the United States and more than 250 pharmacies in six other countries. Medicine Shoppe Pharmacies fill approximately 47 million prescriptions per year, making Medicine Shoppe International the largest franchisor of independent community pharmacies in the US, and one of the top three franchises in the health care industry. Medicine Shoppe International, Inc is headquartered in St Louis, MO.

More information on NABP’s DMEPOS accreditation program is available from the NABP Customer Service Department at 847/391-4406 or via e-mail at dmepos@nabp.net.

Larissa Doucette