Benzer Pharmacy’s specialty medication arm has set up shop on New Orlean’s Canal Street by establishing a center of excellence, with a focus on HIV and hepatitis C.

Located at 2525 Canal St., the location’s services include insurance benefits verification, completion of prior authorizations, appeals processing and submission, financial assistance programs (co-pay/foundations) and drug/disease patient therapy management, among others.

“We are treating this location as a specialty hub following reports that Louisiana has high occurrences of hep C and HIV,” according to Mike LaBrecque, vice president of Benzer Specialty Pharmacy.

Benzer cited state statistics finding that in 2013, an estimated 1,398 adults and adolescents were diagnosed with HIV in Louisiana. The state ranked 11th among the 50 states in the number of HIV diagnoses that year.

“The specialty hub will coordinate and meet all of the medication needs of the patient, including specialty, traditional, OTC, etc.,” LaBrecque stated.

Benzer is currently in process of accreditation with the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) for specialty pharmacy. With that designation, any Benzer outlet will be able to fill specialty prescriptions in addition to their usual services, and patients will receive the full complement of specialty services, the company noted.

“This is an exciting time for Benzer Specialty Pharmacy, as the demand for specialty medications has increased dramatically over the past few years,” LaBrecque added.