Transforming Pharmacy Benefit Management for Arkansas Municipal League

The Challenge

The Arkansas Municipal League, a voluntary association of Arkansas cities and towns, provides essential services to its members through legislative advocacy, benefits programs, and educational opportunities. Their workers’ compensation division faced significant challenges with their existing Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM), who failed to deliver on three crucial fronts:

  • Timely communication
  • Customized solutions
  • Fair pricing
Client

Arkansas Municipal League

Implementation Time

60 days

Key Achievement

Integrated PBM system with unique academic partnership

AML

The Solution

After an extensive vendor evaluation process, the League partnered with Preferred Medical to modernize their PBM operations. The partnership centered on three critical elements:

1

Arkansas-Specific Expertise: Deep understanding of the state’s Workers’ Compensation Drug Formulary

2 Academic Partnership: Integration with University of Arkansas Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy

3 Custom Implementation: Development of a tailored PBM solution meeting unique organizational needs

Key Features Implemented

Custom Authorization Portal:

  • Streamlined routing mechanism for authorization requests
  • Complete claim profile and treatment history access
  • Real-time decision tracking for claims examiners

Smart Escalation System:

  • Automated triggers for idle authorization requests
  • Supervisor oversight support
  • Management team visibility

Responsive Communication Protocol:

  • Maximum of 30-minute inquiry acknowledgment
  • Maximum of 120-minute target response time

Customized Analytics:

  • Tailored reporting for League requirements
  • UAMS-specific data analysis
  • Performance tracking metrics

Business Impact

The implementation delivered significant improvements across multiple areas:

  • Financial: Substantial cost savings with quantifiable ROI
  • Operational: Streamlined workflows enabling focus on critical tasks
  • Service Quality: Enhanced support for examiners, members, and recovering employees
  • Management: Dedicated account management with program expertise
  • Stakeholder Satisfaction: Improved experience for all parties involved:
    • Claims examiners
    • League members
    • Treating physicians
    • Recovering employees

Unique Partnership Highlight

A distinguishing feature of this implementation was the integration with UAMS's College of Pharmacy. This academic partnership ensures:

  • Expert PharmD review of all pharmacy authorization requests
  • Alignment with the Evidence-Based Prescription Drug Formulary
  • Direct involvement of key formulary development stakeholders
  • Enhanced quality of care for recovering employees

The Preferred Medical Difference

The implementation timeline sets this project apart from industry standards. Preferred Medical delivered a fully functional, custom-integrated system in just 60 days. This rapid deployment, combined with the unique academic partnership, demonstrates our ability to create innovative solutions that meet complex requirements.

Looking Forward

The partnership between Arkansas Municipal League and Preferred Medical showcases how the right PBM solution can transform healthcare delivery while maintaining high standards of care. The successful integration of academic expertise with efficient operational processes has created a model program that ensures both cost-effectiveness and quality of care.

The holistic approach developed through this partnership continues to evolve, ensuring all stakeholders receive optimal support while maintaining focus on the most important outcome: the successful recovery of injured workers.