Genoa Healthcare, an OptumRx subsidiary, Continues its Growth Strategy

Dedicated to serving the needs of those in the behavioral health and addiction treatment communities, and others who have complex, chronic health conditions, Genoa Healthcare (Genoa) is the largest provider of pharmacy, outpatient telepsychiatry and medication management services.

UnitedHealth Group’s OptumRx division, making an aggressive move into the business of filling the medication needs of people with behavioral health problems, is combining operations with Genoa, a company that runs more than 435 pharmacies in behavioral-health centers in 46 states. UnitedHealth Group paid about $2.5 billion to buy Genoa.

UnitedHealth has said that transforming pharmacy care services is a key goal it hopes to accomplish by applying its growing expertise in clinical affairs, technology and data analytics. Genoa is a national company with strong Minnesota ties — it operates 19 pharmacies in community health centers in the state, and last year it acquired a spinout from the University of Minnesota that developed ways for insurers to reduce costs through better medication management for chronic illnesses.

Genoa operates the fifth-largest drug chain, filling 15 million prescriptions annually for more than 650,000 people at 435 full-service pharmacies. Genoa’s pharmacies are located in community mental health centers, where patients are often covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

Genoa also operates the nation’s largest outpatient telepsychiatry program, with operations in more than 35 states, for 125,000 people annually. And Genoa runs a medication management solutions program for “high-risk” health plan members who typically have at least four chronic conditions and $50,000 in annual medical costs.

Genoa recently acquired St. Louis Park’s Medication Management Systems Inc., the University of Minnesota spinout. The company provided technology and services to health insurers that want to provide guidance for patients about cost-effective use of prescription drugs, based on research by pharmacists at the U on medication therapy management.

Genoa’s pharmacists conduct comprehensive medication reviews by phone looking for contraindications, unnecessary medications and other ways to improve care from a pharmaceutical care point of view. They then work with all providers on a member’s care team to make changes to a member’s treatment plan.

Genoa is continuing its expansion efforts utilizing the resources of Optum and United Health Group. New pharmacy locations include:

Keene, NH

Hartford, CT

Grants Pass, OR, within Options for South Oregon

Biddeford, ME, within Maine Behavioral Healthcare

Newark, OH, at a new location within Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio

Valley Cottage, NY, within the Mental Health Association of Rockland County

Marion, VA, within the Mount Rogers Community Service Board

Fort Lauderdale, FL, within Archways

Laredo, TX, within the Border Region Behavioral Center