Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute (PBMI) helps industry professionals manage pharmacy benefit programs through research-based drug benefit education.

TEMPE, Ariz., December 19, 2005 – The Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute (PBMI) 2006 Prescription Drug Utilization Management Conference will feature two new in-depth workshops for industry professionals responsible for drug benefit programs for employees, retirees, union groups, and health plans. The meeting will be held from April 26-28, 2006 at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“We are developing interactive workshops to discuss the critical issues of pharmacy benefit plan design, drug mix management, request-for-proposal methodologies, and PBM contracting,” said Michael H. Deskin, PBMI president. Nationally recognized faculty members will conduct the 90-minute workshops on Weds., April 26 to start the nation's premier conference dedicated to the prescription drug benefit.

“These workshops have been developed in response to requests from convention attendees who are asking for detailed, technical information on critical drug benefit design and administration issues,” Deskin said.

Conference sessions on Thurs., April 27, and Fri., April 28, will feature experts presenting research findings, case studies, and ready-to-implement strategies to manage utilization and control drug costs. Topics and case studies include the value of compliance, electronic prescribing, evidence-based formulary design, management of physician prescribing patterns, in-house pharmacy, emerging PBM transparency standards, and Medicare Part D implementation.

Industry experts from many organizations will speak at the PBMI Conference including Advanced Pharmacy Concepts, Aon Consulting, BlueCross BlueShield of Massachusetts, Caremark, Catalyst Rx, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CHD Meridian Healthcare, CIGNA Pharmacy Management, Eastman Chemical Company, First Health Services Corp., HR Policy Association Pharmaceutical Purchasing Coalition, MedImpact, Peabody Energy, Pharmaceutical Strategies Group, Premera Blue Cross, and the State of Oregon Public Employees' Benefit Board. In addition to the workshops and 15 professional sessions, PBMI's conference offers networking opportunities. For an agenda and registration discount, click here.

The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmaceutical education. Participants attending all sessions will be awarded 14 contact hours of continuing education credit. Statements of credit will be mailed four weeks after the program. ACPE Program Number: 003-999-05-071-L04. CE hours for human resource and benefit professionals also will be available.

Privately held, PBMI is an independent industry resource that provides research-based education to help industry professionals design and manage pharmacy benefit programs. Sponsorships and table-top exhibits are available. For more information, visit PBMI at http://www.pbmi.com/or call (480) 730-0814.