IRVING, Texas — McKesson has announced the launch of Atlas Specialty, a new specialty-focused pharmacy services administrative organization (PSAO), to drive lower drug costs and total cost of care for providers and patients. Increasing access to specialty contract relationships, Atlas Specialty enables health system pharmacies, medically integrated dispensary practices and specialty community pharmacies to care for patients with rare and complex diseases.

“Atlas Specialty builds upon the strength and expertise of Health Mart Atlas—one of the nation’s largest PSAOs with more than 6,000 members—to bridge the gap between payers and providers,” said Crystal Lennartz, vice president and general manager, Health Mart Atlas and Atlas Specialty. “These strategic relationships will help pharmacists spend less time on administrative tasks, so they can focus on what’s most important — patient health.”

Atlas Specialty members benefit from:

• Centralized access to specialty contracts through agreements with local, regional, and national commercial healthcare insurers and pharmacy benefit managers

• Professional services that optimize financial and operational efficiencies; like support with competitive reimbursements and reduced DIR fees

• Data and insights to support better continuity of care

• Improved patient outcomes through greater treatment adherence

To help navigate the complex specialty marketplace and solve for gaps in the healthcare ecosystem, the McKesson Specialty Network combines Atlas Specialty and the payer access team for the specialty pharmacy Biologics by McKesson.

“As the need for specialty care continues to expand, we developed the McKesson Specialty Network to leverage the capabilities and expertise across McKesson to make quality care more accessible and affordable,” said Melissa Hegna-Wilson, vice president, specialty contracting and payer engagement, McKesson. “By unifying and strengthening McKesson’s specialty pharmacy managed care capabilities, we have built a high-performing specialty pharmacy network that delivers more provider and patient choice in multiple care settings.”

 Atlas Specialty is now enrolling for single and multi-specialty contracts.