NCPDP`s SVP of Industry IT Appointed to HIT Standards Committee

Pharmacy Industry`s Standards Development Organization Continues to Shape
Healthcare Reform with Executive`s Appointment to Federal AdvisoryCommittee
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(Business Wire)--
The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP), a not-for-profit
pharmacy standards development organization, announced that the Department of
Health and Human Services has appointed John Klimek, R.Ph., NCPDP`s Senior Vice
President of Industry Information Technology, to the Health Information
Technology (HIT) Standards Committee, a federal advisory committee established
by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

The HIT Standards Committee is charged with making recommendations to the
National Coordinator on standards, implementation specifications, and
certification criteria for the electronic exchange and use of health
information. The first meeting of the committee was held in May 2009.

"It is gratifying to be a part of this historic collaboration to address the
information technology challenges, and gaps and inconsistencies in standards and
recommend industry-wide solutions that will become an integral part of achieving
true healthcare reform," stated Klimek.

Klimek has been instrumental in supporting NCPDP`s charge to positively affect
healthcare and pharmacy standards. He joined NCPDP in 2009, after 12 years
working with the organization in various capacities, including: Annual
Conference Committee Member, Awards Committee Member, and Co-Chair of WG2
Product Identification. In addition to his appointment to the HIT Standards
Committee, Klimek, as a former member of NCPDP`s Board of Trustees and Strategic
Planning Committee, participated in the early development of the Standards
Charter Organization (SCO) - a historic, formal collaboration to achieve
harmonization of healthcare standards and interoperability -- through a series
of summits that NCPDP facilitated with other healthcare standards development
organizations. Klimek currently serves as Chair of the SCO.

Klimek is a seasoned manager of pharmacy information systems, with more than 30
years experience managing pharmacy systems and pharmacies. His expertise has
proven to be an ideal complement to NCPDP`s rapid growth and rising need for
healthcare standards development organizations to closely coordinate initiatives
with each other as well as with government agencies. As Senior Vice President,
Klimek is responsible for strategic planning and leadership on NCPDP`s standards
framework, and communication and collaboration with external standards
organizations. Klimek also oversees the implementation of strategies that will
ensure a sustainable, effective computing infrastructure for NCPDP.

Lee Ann Stember, NCPDP`s President, stated, "We are very pleased with the
contributions John has made to our executive team. His proven expertise in
pharmacy issues and management, healthcare IT, business planning and deep
familiarity with NCPDP make John uniquely suited in enabling NCPDP to better
position itself for future growth and drive healthcare standards to a higher
level."

Photo of John Klimek available here.

About NCPDP

Founded in 1977, NCPDP is a not-for-profit, ANSI-accredited, Standards
Development Organization with about 1600 members representing virtually every
sector of the pharmacy services industry. Our diverse membership provides
leadership and healthcare business solutions through education and standards,
created using the consensus building process. NCPDP has been named in federal
legislation, including HIPAA and the MMA. NCPDP members have created standards
such as the Telecommunication Standard and Batch Standard, the SCRIPT Standard
for e-Prescribing, the Manufacturers Rebate Standard and more to improve
communication within the pharmacy industry. Our data services include the NCPDP
Provider Identification Number, a unique identifier of over 75,000 pharmacies,
and HCIdea, "The Prescriber Identity Solution". For more information about NCPDP
Standards, Data Services, Educational Programs and Work Group meetings, go
online at www.ncpdp.org or call (480) 477-1000.

Amendola Communications for NCPDP
Janet Cabibbo, 480-664-8412 ext. 15
jcabibbo@ACmarketingPR.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009