AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 17, 2016 — Patients are more likely to receive the appropriate type of home nutrition therapy when their care includes management by registered dietitians, suggests a study being presented at the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) Clinical Nutrition Week meeting today in Austin.

Nutrition therapy patients receiving home parenteral (intravenous) nutrition (HPN) were transitioned to home enteral (through a feeding tube) nutrition (HEN) or to an oral diet sooner due to the registered dietitians’ expertise and adherence to A.S.P.E.N. guidelines, researchers found. Patients with a variety of health conditions require nutrition support: the guidelines generally recommend HPN for patients whose gastrointestinal (G.I.) systems aren’t functioning, and HEN for those whose G.I. systems are functioning, but who may have other problems that interfere with eating, such as the inability to swallow. HEN is preferable whenever possible because it is more similar to how the body naturally receives nutrition.

Patients prescribed HPN should transition to HEN or an oral diet as soon as their G.I. systems are functioning, the guidelines note. HPN not only costs more, but the risk of infection is significantly higher compared to HEN. Nutrition order writing can be managed by a physician, registered dietitian or be a collaboration of the two. As the percentage of patients whose care was managed by registered dietitians increased during the five-year study, the average number of days patients received HPN decreased, suggesting patients transitioned off HPN earlier, as guidelines recommend, researchers found.

“Clearly, home nutrition patients benefit from care provided by a dietitian-led nutrition support team,” said Kelly Kinnare, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC, nutrition services manager for Option Care. “Physicians are busy and recognize the expertise dietitians provide and therefore increasingly are putting the nutrition order writing and weaning recommendations in our hands. “

The study included 505 patients who were started on HPN between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2014. During that time period, the percentage of patients whose care was managed by a registered dietitian increased 18 percent (from 75 percent to 91 percent) and the average number of days a patient received HPN decreased by 33 percent (from 128.7 days to 86.5 days).

“HPN is more invasive, presents with serious complications, and is significantly more expensive than HEN therefore should only be utilized when appropriate,” said Noreen Luszcz, RD, MBA, CNSC, nutrition program director for Option Care. “While HEN costs about $500 a month per patient, HPN is 10 times as expensive, costing about $5,000 a month. “

In this study the average length of HPN therapy decreased by 42 days per patient with increased dietitian management. Every patient on HPN 42 less days equates to a $7000 in healthcare savings which does not include the savings from the elimination of potential line infections and other complications associated with HPN.

Option Care’s Nutrition Support Program follows a multidisciplinary team approach to care including infusion nurses, pharmacists and dietitians certified in nutrition support who work closely with physicians to provide quality care to HPN and HEN patients. The program includes a registered dietitian at every one of its 92 infusion pharmacies.

Patients are prescribed HPN or HEN because they cannot meet their nutrition needs orally due to conditions such as cancer, stroke, gastrointestinal disease or surgical complications. Both therapies can be temporarily administered in the hospital, however about 40,000 HPN patients and 344,000 HEN patients annually receive their nutrition therapy safely and with less cost at home avoiding the risk of exposure to hospital-acquired infections, returning to work and living active lives. Although some people receive these therapies short term many are on for a longer period and some lifelong.

About Option Care

Option Care Enterprises, Inc., offers clinical care provided by specially trained infusion nurses, pharmacists and dietitians who treat patients with a wide range of acute, chronic and rare conditions. As one of the nation’s largest providers of home and alternate treatment site infusion services, Option Care has 92 infusion pharmacies and 110 alternate treatment sites across the country. Learn more at www.OptionCare.com.

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Option Care
Lauren Kotarski
312-558-1770
LKotarski@pcipr.com

Option Care Selected as Provider of First-of-its-Kind Digestion-Improving Product for Patients with Complex Medical Conditions Requiring Nutritional Support

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Option Care Enterprises, Inc., a leading national provider of home and alternate treatment site infusion services, has been selected as the contracted provider of RELiZORB™ (immobilized lipase), which helps patients with complex medical conditions digest and absorb the “essential fats “ they receive through enteral nutrition (tube feeding). Relizorb is manufactured by Alcresta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

What is RELiZORB™

Recently approved as a de novo device by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Relizorb is a first-of-its-kind digestive enzyme cartridge designed to mimic the normal pancreatic function by breaking down fats in enteral tube feeding formula. By breaking down these fats prior to ingestion, Relizorb allows for the delivery of increased absorbable calories from fatty acids and monoglycerides to adults who are partially or completely unable to breakdown and absorb fats. Relizorb has been shown to break down 90 percent of fats in most enteral feeding tube formulas, including the most difficult to breakdown long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are critical for growth and development.

“We’re so pleased to be chosen to provide such an innovative product, which we believe can improve the quality of life for patients in need of nutrition therapy, “ said Kimberly Petruccelli, PharmD, MBA, clinical program manager of specialty infusion programs for Option Care. “Our registered dietitians have extensive experience and expertise caring for patients in need of complex therapies, including enteral nutrition, and can ensure they receive the highest level of care. “

Option Care & RELiZORB™

Option Care was selected to provide and support the administration of Relizorb due to its ability to deliver individualized treatment through its Nutrition Support Program, which follows a multidisciplinary patient care team approach and includes a registered dietitian at every one of its branches. One of the nation’s largest providers of home and alternate treatment site infusion services, Option Care has the capability to provide safe, effective nutrition care for patients nationwide through its 92 infusion pharmacies.

“Option Care will play a key role in bringing Relizorb to patients through its dietitian-led patient care teams, “ said John Tucker, chief executive officer of Alcresta. “The company is an ideal partner because of its proven track record of providing high-quality care and its national presence with patients, payers and providers. “

“Option Care is honored to have been selected by Alcresta as the Relizorb provider of choice, and we’re committed to making this product an accessible option for patients, providers and payers, “ said Matthew Deans, vice president of business development for Option Care. “We believe that in developing customized clinical management programs in partnership with biopharmaceutical manufacturers, we can increase patient access to novel therapies. It’s our priority that patients receive the full therapeutic benefit of the treatment, which can lead to increased satisfaction, improved outcomes and lower total cost of care. “

About Option Care

Option Care Enterprises, Inc., offers clinical care provided by specially trained infusion nurses, pharmacists and dietitians who treat patients with a wide range of acute, chronic and rare conditions. As one of the nation’s largest providers of home and alternate treatment site infusion services, Option Care has 92 infusion pharmacies and 110 alternate treatment sites across the country. Learn more at www.OptionCare.com.

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Option Care
Lauren Kotarski
312-558-1770
LKotarski@pcipr.com

SAN ANTONIO — Option Care patients treated with immunoglobulin (IG) therapy at home with a high level of clinical oversight had better outcomes compared to others receiving the therapy according to a first-of-its-kind study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting this week. The researchers, who evaluated data from Option Care as compared to a large national database, also determined that the cost of therapy was lower. [*]Orange J, Kirkham H, Ayer G, et al. Improved clinical outcomes for patients receiving immunoglobulin therapy through specialty pharmacy or home infusion services. Paper presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting: Nov 5-9, 2015; San Antonio.

One of the nation’s largest providers of home and alternate treatment site infusion services, Option Care provides high-quality, high-touch clinical support to patients undergoing treatment for complex conditions, including those receiving IG. Option Care’s unique treatment model combines locally delivered care with nationally managed treatment protocols and outcomes data collection. Specially trained infusion nurses and pharmacists provide individualized, expert IG treatment and patient education in the home. Patient-reported outcome measures — a scientific way of capturing patient experience — are collected by a dedicated team of IG experts and shared with patient’s broader health care team to keep everyone on the same page about the patient’s health status and to optimize the treatment plan.

“We conducted this research to test the hypothesis that patients who receive higher levels of clinical care in the home end up having better outcomes, ” said Jordan Orange, M.D., Ph.D., lead investigator of the study and professor of pediatrics and immunology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “We found that the provision of comprehensive and consistent care in a patient’s own home does indeed lead to better outcomes. And an added benefit was that it was actually more cost effective.”

IG therapy is provided to patients who have disorders of the immune system such as immune deficiencies or autoimmune diseases, including some neuromuscular disorders. The site of care for the treatment may be the hospital inpatient setting, a hospital outpatient infusion center, a physician’s office, a community infusion center or at home.

In the retrospective study from Aug. 1, 2011 to June 30, 2014, Dr. Orange and his colleagues assessed outcomes of Option Care patients receiving in-home IG therapy in comparison with control patients included in a large national administrative claims database (IMS Pharmetrics Plus). Patients received therapy one of two ways: intravenous IG (IVIG) in which it is injected directly into the bloodstream, and subcutaneous IG (SCIG), in which the therapy is injected just beneath the first layer of skin. Researchers matched each Option Care patient to four patients in the database: 227 Option Care IVIG patients were compared to 908 controls, and 59 Option Care SCIG patients were compared to 236 controls. Researchers found:

• Serious bacterial infections were lower in Option Care IVIG patients (.16 per patient per year) compared to control IVIG patients (.29 per patient per year)[*]Orange J, Kirkham H, Ayer G, et al. Improved clinical outcomes for patients receiving immunoglobulin therapy through specialty pharmacy or home infusion services. Paper presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting: Nov 5-9, 2015; San Antonio.  
• Serious adverse events (renal impairment, hepatitis, anaphylaxis and aseptic meningitis) were lower in Option Care SCIG patients (.08 per patient per year) compared to SCIG control patients (.34 per patient per year). [*]Orange J, Kirkham H, Ayer G, et al. Improved clinical outcomes for patients receiving immunoglobulin therapy through specialty pharmacy or home infusion services. Paper presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting: Nov 5-9, 2015; San Antonio.
• Costs were lower overall for Option Care IVIG patients compared to controls ($112,756 vs. $120,567 per patient per year).[*]Orange J, Kirkham H, Ayer G, et al. Improved clinical outcomes for patients receiving immunoglobulin therapy through specialty pharmacy or home infusion services. Paper presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting: Nov 5-9, 2015; San Antonio.  

“Delivering high quality care for all of our patients is our top priority. We believe that our high-touch care model benefits patients, and we are pleased that this IG data bears that out,” said Paul Mastrapa, CEO of Option Care. “Not only do our patients appreciate the quality of life benefits of receiving care in the home, this research shows they also are getting the best quality care at a lower cost.”

About the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)

The ACAAI is a professional medical organization of more than 6,000 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. The College fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy and research. ACAAI allergists are board-certified physicians trained to diagnose allergies and asthma, administer immunotherapy, and provide patients with the best treatment outcomes. For more information and to find relief, visit  www.AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org.

About Option Care

Option Care Enterprises, Inc., formerly Walgreens Infusion Services, Inc., offers high quality clinical care provided by specially trained infusion nurses, pharmacists and dietitians who treat patients with a wide range of acute, chronic and rare conditions. As one of the nation’s largest providers of home and alternate treatment site infusion services, Option Care has 92 infusion pharmacies and 110 alternate treatment sites across the country. Learn more at www.OptionCare.com.  

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Option Care
Lauren Kotarski
312-558-1770
LKotarski@pcipr.com

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Option Care Enterprises, Inc., an independent infusion services company, has been selected as a contracted provider of Coagadex ® (Coagulation Factor X Human), the first and only treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifically for hereditary factor X deficiency, a rare and serious bleeding disorder. Coagadex is manufactured by Bio Products Laboratory, Ltd.

Coagadex is an injectable medication provided to patients with hereditary factor X deficiency for the controlling of bleeding episodes or management of surgery-related bleeding. An inherited disorder that prevents the blood from clotting as it should, factor X deficiency currently affects approximately 300 to 600 men and women in the United States. Previously, no specific coagulation factor replacement therapy was available for patients with this condition.

One of the nation’s largest providers of home and alternate treatment site infusion services — including for bleeding disorder management — Option Care was chosen to provide and support the administration of Coagadex due to its ability to provide high-quality clinical support to patients undergoing treatment for complex conditions. The company has the ability to serve patients with hereditary factor X deficiency wherever they are through its 92 infusion pharmacies and 110 alternate treatment sites nationwide.

“We’re honored to work with the bleeding disorders community and are committed to providing these patients the highest quality care, “ said Joan Couden, bleeding disorder program director for Option Care. “Our specially trained infusion nurses and pharmacists have a wealth of experience in caring for patients with rare and complex bleeding disorders. By safely providing therapy, monitoring their progress and working closely with their physicians, our team ensures our patients experience optimal outcomes. “

Coagadex was approved by the FDA on Oct. 20 for on-demand treatment and control of bleeding episodes and for management of bleeding before, during and after surgery in patients with mild hereditary factor X deficiency. It was granted orphan product designation, which is given to promote the development of drugs intended to treat rare diseases. The approval of the purified factor X concentrate increases therapy options for patients with hereditary factor X deficiency, with the goal of replacing their missing X factor without adding other clotting factors they don’t need.

“Option Care’s experience providing patients with access to high-quality, high-touch healthcare services for complex conditions has allowed it to develop programs with biopharmaceutical manufacturers to manage and advance patient care, “ said Matthew Deans, vice president of business development for Option Care. “These manufacturers view Option Care as a partner of choice because of our proven track record of effectively managing patient and physician relationships to help ensure successful outcomes for patients on therapies including those where healthcare professional administration is not just preferred, but required. “

About Option Care

Option Care Enterprises, Inc., formerly Walgreens Infusion Services, Inc., offers clinical care provided by specially trained infusion nurses, pharmacists and dietitians who treat patients with a wide range of acute, chronic and rare conditions. As one of the nation’s largest providers of home and alternate treatment site infusion services, Option Care has 92 infusion pharmacies and 110 alternate treatment sites across the country. Learn more at www.OptionCare.com.

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Media Contact Information

Option Care
Lauren Kotarski
312-558-1770
LKotarski@pcipr.com

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Sixty-three percent of patients with short bowel syndrome who took teduglutide (TED) to enhance gastrointestinal absorption were able to reduce their parenteral support (PS), according to a study[*]Petruccelli K, Youssef N, Li B, Curry K. Teduglutide treatment in adult patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS): initial clinical experience of management through a specialized infusion pharmacy (SIP) service. Poster session presented at: the American College of Gastroenterology’s (ACG) 80th Annual Scientific Meeting; 2015 Oct 16-21; Honolulu, HI. presented by Option Care Enterprise, Inc. this weekend at the 2015 American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Scientific Meeting in Honolulu.

Option Care, one of the nation’s largest infusion services companies, presented “Teduglutide Treatment in Adult Patients with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS): Initial Clinical Experience of Management through a Specialized Infusion Pharmacy (SIP) Service.” The poster highlights results of data analysis of the clinical management of teduglutide therapy provided by a specialized infusion pharmacy in the home-care setting.

In the study of 52 patients with short bowel syndrome who received TED, 63 percent attained a 20 percent to 100 percent reduction in PS volume at weeks 20 and 24. TED treatment resulted in additional days off of PS per week for many patients, with 23 (44 percent) gaining one day or more per week off, 20 (38.5 percent) gaining two days or more off and 15 (28.8 percent) gaining three or more days off PS. Nine patients (17.3 percent) gained complete PS independence.[*]Petruccelli K, Youssef N, Li B, Curry K. Teduglutide treatment in adult patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS): initial clinical experience of management through a specialized infusion pharmacy (SIP) service. Poster session presented at: the American College of Gastroenterology’s (ACG) 80th Annual Scientific Meeting; 2015 Oct 16-21; Honolulu, HI.  

“These observations confirm the ability of TED to reduce PS dependence in patients with short bowel syndrome treated in a non-trial setting with close monitoring by a multidisciplinary team,” said Kendra Curry, PharmD, Corporate Director, Specialty Infusion Programs with Option Care.

About the American College of Gastroenterology

Founded in 1932, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) is an organization with an international membership of more than 12,500 individuals from 86 countries. The College’s vision is to be the pre-eminent professional organization that champions the evolving needs of clinicians in the delivery of high quality, evidence-based, and compassionate health care to gastroenterology patients. The mission of the College is to advance world-class care for patients with gastrointestinal disorders through excellence, innovation and advocacy in the areas of scientific investigation, education, prevention and treatment. www.gi.org

About Option Care

Option Care, formerly Walgreens Infusion Services Inc., offers clinical care provided by specially trained infusion nurses, pharmacists and dietitians who treat patients with a wide range of acute, chronic and rare conditions. As one of the nation’s largest providers of home and alternate treatment site infusion services, Option Care has 92 infusion pharmacies and 110 alternate treatment sites across the country. Learn more at www.OptionCare.com.

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Media Contact Information

Option Care
Lauren Kotarski
312-558-1770
LKotarski@pcipr.com

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Option Care, an independent infusion services company, today announced the appointment of Michael H. Shapiro as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Shapiro will lead all aspects of Option Care’s finance, accounting, treasury and M&A functions, working directly with Chief Executive Officer Paul Mastrapa as part of the Option Care executive leadership team.

“Mike brings a wealth of experience and an impressive track record of success within the healthcare industry,” said Mastrapa. “This is a pivotal time for Option Care, and I’m confident that Mike’s leadership will help us capitalize on our position at the forefront of the $14 billion and growing alternate site infusion market.”

Shapiro most recently served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Catamaran Corporation, one of the nation’s leading pharmacy benefits managers. Shapiro joined Catamaran in 2012 as Senior Vice President, Finance and became CFO in 2014, leading the process through which the company was sold to UnitedHealth Group.

Prior to joining Catamaran, Shapiro was Vice President and CFO for Rexnord Corporation, a publicly traded diversified industrial company. Shapiro previously spent 15 years at Baxter International, Inc., a global medical device and biopharmaceutical manufacturer, where he served in various financial leadership positions including Vice President, Finance and Business Development for the Renal Division of Baxter.

“I’m thrilled to join the executive team of a company with such a strong and respected legacy among healthcare providers, patients and the healthcare industry as a whole,” said Shapiro. “This is an exciting time for Option Care and I look forward to helping drive its financial growth and success.”

One of the nation’s largest providers of home and alternate site infusion services, Option Care has the ability to serve more than 90 percent of the U.S. population, with 92 infusion pharmacies and 110 alternate treatment sites in 40 states, and almost 5,000 employees.

Shapiro began his career as an audit professional with Deloitte & Touche and is a Certified Public Accountant. He earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in Finance and Strategy and a BS in Accounting from Miami University (Ohio).

About Option Care

Option Care, formerly Walgreens Infusion Services, offers clinical care provided by specially trained infusion nurses and pharmacists who treat patients with a wide range of acute, chronic and rare conditions. As one of the nation’s largest providers of home and alternate treatment site infusion services, Option Care has 92 infusion pharmacies and 110 alternate treatment sites across the country. Learn more at www.OptionCare.com.

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Media Contact Information

Option Care
Bridget Kagan
312-558-1770
BKagan@pcipr.com

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Option Care, a new, independent infusion services company previously known as Walgreens Infusion Services, today unveiled its new name and company branding. Option Care is majority owned by Madison Dearborn Partners (MDP), a leading private equity firm based in Chicago; and minority owned by Walgreen Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), and is positioned to capitalize on the $14 billion and growing alternate site infusion market.

Option Care, with its dedicated focus on the U.S. infusion market, benefits from the agility of being an independent company with additional investment and access to the expertise, capabilities and resources of MDP while having access to continued collaboration with Walgreens.

“Option Care allows people across the country to receive high quality medical services at home and in other patient-preferred, comfortable and cost-efficient settings,” said Paul Mastrapa, CEO of Option Care. “The infusion market is growing approximately ten percent per year, and Option Care is positioned to provide exceptional clinical care every step of the way. We’re a strategic health care partner that can continue to make emerging therapies readily accessible throughout the country, serving the rapidly increasing number of Americans who rely on these treatments.”

One of the nation’s largest providers of home and alternate site infusion services, Option Care has the ability to serve more than 90 percent of the U.S. population, with 92 infusion pharmacies and 110 alternate treatment sites in 40 states, and almost 5,000 employees.

New Name and Brand

The Option Care name is already well-known among patients and health care providers. In 2007, Walgreens acquired an independent infusion company called Option Care that had operated as a local and regional leader for more than 20 years.

The new Option Care builds upon the legacy of that established brand with a new energy and ambition for the future. The company’s new logo also was unveiled today — a bold and colorful symbol that celebrates the company’s clinical expertise and goal to be a connected part of the healthcare system. It includes a multi-colored segment design representing the range of Option Care’s service offerings, customer segments, and primary therapy areas, including nutrition, anti-infectives, heart failure, immune system disorders, bleeding disorders and many other conditions.

With industry respect and longstanding trusted and integrated partnerships with patients, caregivers, payers, pharmaceutical manufacturers and other healthcare providers, the new Option Care is poised to become the leading alternate site infusion provider by focusing on exceptional, innovative, patient-centric clinical care.

About Option Care

Option Care, formerly Walgreens Infusion Services, offers clinical care provided by specially trained infusion nurses and pharmacists who treat patients with a wide range of acute, chronic and rare conditions. As one of the nation’s largest providers of home and alternate treatment site infusion services, Option Care has 92 infusion pharmacies and 110 alternate treatment sites across the country. Learn more at www.OptionCare.com.

About Madison Dearborn Partners

Madison Dearborn Partners (MDP), based in Chicago, is a leading private equity investment firm in the United States. Since MDP’s formation in 1992, the firm has raised six funds with aggregate capital of over $18 billion and has completed approximately 125 investments. MDP invests in businesses across a broad spectrum of industries, including health care; basic industries; business and government services; consumer; financial and transaction services; and telecom, media and technology services. Its health care investments include Ikaria, Kaufman Hall, National Mentor Holdings, Sage Products, Sirona Dental, Team Health and VWR International. For more information, please visit http://www.mdcp.com/.

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Media Contact Information

Option Care
Lauren Kotarski
312-558-1770
LKotarski@pcipr.com

Madison Dearborn Partners
Chuck Dohrenwend
212-371-5999
COD@abmac.com