By: Option Care Health
April 22, 2020

Ensuring Patient Safety and Continuity of Care is Key During COVID-19 Public Health Crisis as Hospitals Face Unprecedented Challenges

BANNOCKBURN, Ill., April 22, 2020 –  Regence and Option Care Health, Inc. (“Option Care Health”) (NASDAQ: OPCH) today announced an expanded partnership to ease access to care and provide additional options for high-risk patients who rely on infusion therapy. This collaboration enables Regence Health Plan members who currently receive their infusion therapy services in a hospital outpatient setting the ability to transition care to their home or an Option Care Health Infusion Suite.

Regence is committed to helping ease the burden on hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring its members and their families have the clinical care support they need, provided in the comfort, convenience and safety of a preferred location. Regence is a family of health plans in Oregon, Idaho, Utah and select counties in Washington, each an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association dedicated to making healthcare better, simpler and more affordable.

“Ensuring our members have convenient access to care in a safe and affordable setting is our top priority,” said Kerry Bendel, Regence’s Chief Pharmacy Officer. “Option Care Health’s 40-years of experience focused solely on infusion therapy makes them the right partner to help protect the health and safety of our members, their families and our community during the unprecedented challenges created by the COVID-19 crisis.”

The partnership – which builds on Regence’s existing Site of Care program – helps address changing needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for greater flexibility for hospitals, physicians and patients who rely on infusion therapies for a wide variety of acute and chronic needs, from nutrition support and immune disorders to infections and neurologic conditions.

“Infusion provided safely and effectively at home or an infusion suite is more vital to our nation’s health system and patients than ever before,” said John C. Rademacher, President and Chief Executive Officer of Option Care Health. “As we face this public health crisis, it is critical that we work together to continue delivering trusted clinical care that expands the overall capacity of our healthcare system.”

Option Care Health follows rigorous guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure the safety of patients and staff. These measures include comprehensive training of employees, strict protocols for infection control at home and infusion suites, screening of staff and patients for COVID-19 symptoms, ongoing virus-specific updates and education and the use of personal protection equipment (PPE). Employees can call the Option Care Health COVID-19 hotline 24/7 to address questions regarding their health or a patient’s health.

Care managers and clinicians will contact high-risk Regence members to ensure they know about the option to receive infusion therapy care in an alternate setting. Option Care Health clinical teams will coordinate transitions of care and customize treatment plans to suit the specific needs of each patient, with an assigned nurse and pharmacist to monitor treatment. Experienced clinicians and nurses are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to answer questions and provide support for patients, families and providers.

For more information on the Option Care Health and Regence response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit optioncarehealth.com/coronavirus and regence.com/member/health-lifestyle/coronavirus-covid-19.

About Option Care Health

Option Care Health is the nation’s largest independent provider of home and alternate site infusion services. With over 5,000 teammates, including 2,900 clinicians, we work compassionately to elevate standards of care for patients with acute and chronic conditions in all 50 states. Through our clinical leadership, expertise and national scale, Option Care Health is re-imagining the infusion care experience for patients, customers and employees. To learn more, please visit our website at OptionCareHealth.com.

About Regence

Regence serves approximately 3.1 million members through Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and Regence BlueShield (select counties in Washington). Each health plan is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Regence is part of a family of companies dedicated to transforming healthcare by delivering innovative products and services that change the way consumers nationwide experience healthcare. For more information, please visit Regence.com.

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