PHARMACY DIRECT SIGNS FUJI PACT

JANICE ZOELLER

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Pharmacy Direct Network here, a pharmacy benefit management company representing community pharmacies, including many in supermarkets, has signed its first managed care contract with Fuji Photo Film, Elmsford, N.Y.

The contract, which takes effect Jan. 1, covers U.S.-based employees of Fuji Photo Film and their families, said Robert Pfotenhauer, chief executive officer of PDN.

PDN was formed by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores in March to bid for managed care contracts with employer groups and insurance companies. PDN now operates independently with its own board of directors and staff. The network consists of approximately 32,000 pharmacies.

Supermarket members of PDN include Safeway, Oakland, Calif.; Kroger Co., Cincinnati; Albertson's, Boise, Idaho; Grand Union Co., Wayne, N.J.; Randalls Food Markets, Houston; Tom Thumb, Dallas; Hannaford Bros., Scarborough, Maine; Abco Markets, Phoenix; Schwegmann Giant Super Markets, New Orleans; Tidyman's, Greenacres, Wash., and Kessel Food Markets, Flint, Mich. Kmart, Troy, Mich., with 1,675 pharmacies, is also a member of PDN.

Participation in the PDN plan will be one of several options available to Fuji employees, said Cathy Richardson, benefits administrator for Fuji Photo Film. She said she expected about 500 employees and their families will opt for the PDN program.

Previously Fuji's prescription drug benefit program was administered through PCS Health Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz., said Richardson.

Among the factors that made PDN attractive, said Richardson, were "the pricing and the fact that they are not a large conglomerate."

Another reason Fuji favored PDN was that much of the company's business is through drug stores, said Richardson.

Fuji Film "has been serving retail pharmacies and was responsive to PDN and our efforts," said Pfotenhauer. "We were able to convince them that we can offer a more cost-effective service."

"Potentially there may be some additional contracts" with Jan. 1 effective dates, said Pfotenhauer.