Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) announced today its participation in The Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network. The Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network, first announced in January, was established in support of the Administration’s work to advance value and quality in the country’s health care system.

The Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network will work to accelerate the transformation of the nation’s health care delivery system to one that achieves better care, smarter spending, and healthier people, by supporting the adoption of alternative payments models and value-based payments. To date, Rite Aid and more than 2,800 partners including payers, providers, states, consumer groups and employers have registered to participate in the Network.

Earlier today, Rite Aid Chairman and CEO John Standley attended The Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network launch event at the White House, which included remarks from President Barack Obama and the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell.

Rite Aid issued the following statement in support of the Network:

“As one of the nation’s leading pharmacy chains with nearly 90,000 associates, Rite Aid is committed to the goals of value-based health care and remains highly focused on delivering quality, cost-effective care that drives the best possible health outcomes for our patients. We support the Administration and Congress in their efforts to achieve these critical goals and look forward to actively participating in the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network.

“As a company, we are committed to:

  • “Educating our associates about the use of alternative network options that promote improved health outcomes and lower health care costs. We are working with our benefit administration partners to have more than 50 percent of our company and associates’ medical spend supported by health care access through alternative models by 2018.
  • “Developing unique and innovative programs that aim to achieve many of the same goals as value-based health care, like improving the health of our patients while avoiding costly hospitalizations. A great example is Rite Aid Health Alliance, our integrated delivery model in which Rite Aid pharmacists and health coaches partner with medical providers to help patients with one or more chronic diseases better manage their conditions.
  • “Positioning our 11,000 pharmacists to deliver a higher level of care to the communities we serve. This includes providing a wide variety of immunizations and additional targeted medication therapy management interventions focused on appropriate medication use, improving compliance, and closing gaps-in-care. This year, each Rite Aid pharmacy will be concentrating on clinical quality performance measures tied to the STAR ratings measures.

“Rite Aid applauds President Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Burwell for their leadership in forming the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network. We are proud to join this important initiative and look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to drive improvements and innovation throughout our nation’s health care delivery system.”

For a fact sheet on the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network visit: http://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2015-Fact-sheets-items/2015-03-25.html.

To view a list of all organizations that have set goals toward payment reform, visit: http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/Health-Care-Payment-Learning-and-Action-Network/Partners.html.

More information, including how organizations and partners can participate in the Network, is available at http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/Health-Care-Payment-Learning-and-Action-Network/. Most future meetings of the Network will occur virtually by teleconference or webinar.

Rite Aid Corporation is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with nearly 4,600 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia and fiscal 2014 annual revenues of $25.5 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's website at www.riteaid.com.