WASHINGTON — CVS/pharmacy is the first organization applicant to seek community pharmacy accreditation from URAC, a group recognized as a leader in promoting health care quality.

URAC recently announced the launch of its new accreditation program for community pharmacy.

“We are pleased to be the first retail pharmacy seeking URAC’s new community pharmacy accreditation,” said Josh Flum, senior vice president of retail pharmacy at CVS Caremark. “Independently validating the quality of CVS/pharmacy’s patient services through the same accreditation process that CVS Caremark’s other pharmacy businesses have undergone demonstrates our commitment to helping our customers on their path to better health.”

CVS/pharmacy is the retail division of CVS Caremark Corp., which is accredited for four out of six URAC pharmacy accreditation programs: pharmacy benefit management, drug therapy management, specialty pharmacy and mail service pharmacy.

“CVS Caremark has demonstrated its commitment to quality by being early adopters of URAC’s pharmacy accreditation programs,’’ said Kylanne Green, URAC’s chief executive officer.

To earn accreditation, providers must undergo an independent evaluation process, ensuring the achievement of accountability and quality under industry-vetted standards.

URAC’s community pharmacy accreditation program was developed in response to the market’s need to differentiate community pharmacies that engage in patient counseling and education, medication therapy management, and quality initiatives that improve care and reduce overall health care costs.

The program validates the quality of patient management services provided by community pharmacies and substantiates that the structure and processes are in place to provide effective, integrated, patient-centered, accountable care.

The accreditation offers independent third-party recognition and support for community pharmacies, highlighting excellence and quality in single- and multi-site pharmacies.