It is hard to believe it is June!  We have reached the time of the year when we take stock of our results for the first half of 2017 and begin planning for the coming year. We will reflect on our collective and individual performance using the mid-year review process this month, and preparation for the 2018 budget will begin in July.

Business Development has continued to enjoy positive growth since 3rd quarter of 2016. After hiring both Sheila Brunson and Valerie Southall to fill two vacant territories in June and July of 2016, the Business Development team worked to generate new revenue for URAC in 2016.

URAC’s current phone system will reach “end-of-life” this year, meaning it will no longer be supported by our vendors. The new phone system is “cloud-based,” integrates with Skype for Business and Salesforce, and has some convenient capabilities, such as not having to dial 9 to get an outside line, and not having to look up a staff person's four-digit extension (since we won't have extensions anymore!). There are some action items for you this week and next week -- detailed in this article.   

As an accreditation organization, URAC prides itself on not only the quality and thoroughness of our Standards, but also on the renewed focus of continuous performance improvement that URAC brings to an organization through its Measures submission requirements.  The unasked question, “How does URAC ensure that the Standards and Measures brought to the table are meaningful, ensuring excellence and value?” is key to understanding the Accreditation process. 

URAC staff once again showed why we’re the gold standard in Specialty Pharmacy accreditation at this year’s Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The last month has seen a somewhat dizzying amount of healthcare-related policy activity at both the federal and state levels. There have been a number of issues that may have a direct impact on URAC or a direct impact on the customers (and ultimately the consumers) we serve.

The Monthly Review spotlights a different URACer each month in a Q&A. This month it's Christine Tao, who has been with URAC for nearly 12 years.