EnvisionPharmacies, a division of EnvisionRxOptions, announced it has received accreditation through the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) program from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), a non-profit association dedicated to protecting public health by promoting safe pharmacy practices. This accreditation demonstrates commitment to the highest industry standards for quality and safety.

EnvisionPharmacies is one of only 72 pharmacy businesses with an online presence selling prescription medication to have the highly regarded and select VIPPS designation. NABP has reviewed nearly 12,000 online pharmacies and found that more than 95 percent were operating out of compliance with state and federal laws, or what the NABP deems as patient safety and pharmacy practice standards. These “rogue pharmacies” may be providing substandard, counterfeit or falsified medications and contributing to the opioid epidemic, exacerbating the potential for addiction, misuse, abuse and even death. EnvisionPharmacies has shown its commitment to providing patients with safe online pharmacy practices by achieving VIPPS accreditation.

“Online pharmacies provide consumers with a convenient, cost-saving means of filling their prescriptions,” said Donald Gale, senior vice president of EnvisionPharmacies. “But with more and more online pharmacies available to consumers, some offering potentially unsafe or fraudulent products, it is important to provide our clients and patients with the assurance that we provide the safest and highest quality prescription medications.”

Through its VIPPS program, NABP assesses U.S.-based online pharmacies to ensure compliance with all state licensing and inspection requirements where the pharmacy practices. The rigorous accreditation process also establishes that the pharmacy meets nationally endorsed standards of pharmacy practice, demonstrates compliance with standards of privacy, provides authentication and security of prescriptions, adheres to quality assurance policies, and offers meaningful consultation to patients.

“NABP assists in combatting unregulated online pharmacies and protects the public health by helping to uphold the integrity of the pharmacy practice – in any setting – through its VIPPS accreditation program. When patients visit a VIPPS-accredited site they can be assured that they have access to safe and effective prescription medications,” said Carmen A. Catizone, MS, RPh, DPh, NABP executive director and secretary. “EnvisionPharmacies has successfully demonstrated that it offers heightened controls and measures to ensure quality pharmacy practices are continuously offered to patients.”

Located in North Canton, Ohio, EnvisionPharmacies has been providing quality prescription care, dispensing traditional maintenance and specialty medications via mail service across the U.S. and U.S. territories since 2008. EnvisionPharmacies also holds accreditations for both Mail and Specialty Pharmacy from URAC, a healthcare management accrediting organization. “We are proud to demonstrate to our clients and patients our strong commitment to high quality pharmacy practices and excellence in our patient’s pharmaceutical care,” concluded Gale.

About EnvisionRxOptions and EnvisionPharmacies

A wholly owned subsidiary of Rite Aid, EnvisionRxOptions is a healthcare company with a visibly different approach to pharmacy benefits and services. Its pharmacy division, EnvisionPharmacies, is accredited by URAC and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacies, and safely dispenses medications through convenient home delivery of traditional maintenance medications, specialty drugs and customized compounds. EnvisionPharmacies’ nationally recognized pharmacy care model focuses on the unique needs of patients with chronic, complex conditions, better coordinating care and improving outcomes for patients, providers, and payers. For more information, visit envisionpharmacies.com.

About NABP

Founded in 1904, NABP is the independent, international, and impartial association that assists its member boards and jurisdictions in developing, implementing, and enforcing uniform standards for the purpose of protecting public health. The Association aims to ensure the public’s health and safety through its pharmacist license transfer and pharmacist competence assessment programs, as well as through its accreditation programs.

For more information, visit the NABP Web site at www.nabp.pharmacy.