Four Years in a Row: KSP, McLaren’s Specialty Pharmacy, Recognized as a Leader in Performance Measurement by URAC

This honor validates KSP as a top-performing specialty pharmacy committed to making key contributions to advance performance measurements, leading to improved health for the communities KSP serves

"URAC gives accredited specialty pharmacies two goals each year: improve performance to be named as a top overall pharmacy and contribute to the advancement of performance for the accreditation program," explained Stephen Kaurala, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, KSP pharmacy manager. "The KSP team has a strong commitment to the patients we serve, wanting to make a difference while we help with their health care needs. Every year, we are evaluating how we can make our processes more streamlined, safer, and more efficient so our patients get the therapies they need in a timely manner."

To qualify as a URAC Specialty Pharmacy Pioneer, an organization must measure success around access and affordable care, communication and coordination, engagement and experience of care, healthy living, prevention and treatment, and safe care. URAC's Quality, Research, and Measurement Team considered data submitted in 2025, collected between January 1 and December 31, 2024. In addition to the data, specialty pharmacies must meet specific criteria, including holding current, full URAC accreditation, submitting measures on time for the reporting period, and participating in key activities beyond mandatory requirements.

"KSP fills the gaps where local pharmacies cannot; for those complex conditions that may require higher-cost drugs," said Surender Kanaparthi, R.Ph., MBA, DPLA, FACHE, chief pharmacy officer of the Karmanos Cancer Hospital. "Our specialty pharmacy helps patients regionally and as far south as Florida. To exceed the required URAC measurements, the KSP team has implemented various tools to help our patients, including a recent update to the patient portal that powers a new medication maintenance app, enabling real-time care management. The team truly raises the bar on what it means to be a Pioneer in Performance Measurement."

KSP achieved URAC Specialty Pharmacy reaccreditation in August 2023, after first receiving the achievement in 2020. The organization is evaluated for full accreditation based on risk management standards; operations and infrastructure; performance monitoring and improvement; consumer protection and empowerment; pharmacy operations; medication distribution; patient service and communication; patient management; and reporting performance measures to URAC.

As an integrated extension of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, part of McLaren Health Care, KSP has grown to support specialty needs across the McLaren system, which includes patients in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Florida. Learn more about KSP at ksppharmacy.org. For a list of available therapies patients may receive through KSP, view the specialty drug access list.