Sanford Specialty Pharmacy earns ACHC & URAC reaccreditation
March 11, 2026
Contact:
Nathan Aamodt
Sanford Health Media Relations
(701) 200-6080/nathan.aamodt@sanfordhealth.org
FARGO, N.D. – Sanford Health Specialty Pharmacy has earned reaccreditation from The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and The Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC).
The Sanford Specialty Pharmacy first obtained URAC accreditation in June 2019 and ACHC accreditation in November 2019. The specialty pharmacy is licensed in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Arizona. Some roles of the specialty pharmacy include:
• Obtain insurance prior authorizations and secure copay assistance options
• Coordinate medication refills and free delivery
• Work with providers and clinics to streamline care
• Counsel patients and further assist with any medication questions or concerns
URAC is the independent leader in promoting health care quality by setting high standards for clinical practice, consumer protections, performance measurement, operations infrastructure and risk management. By achieving this status, Sanford Fargo Specialty Pharmacy has demonstrated its commitment to quality care, enhanced processes, patient safety and improved outcomes.
ACHC is a nonprofit organization that has stood as a symbol of quality and excellence since 1986. Accreditation by CHCH reflects an organization’s dedication and commitment to meeting standards that facilitate a higher level of performance and patient care.
“I am extremely proud of our Sanford Specialty Pharmacy team for achieving URAC and ACHC reaccreditation, and their continued dedication to going above and beyond for our patients,” said Jill Ostby, Sanford Specialty Pharmacy manager. “As a URAC and ACHC accredited organization, we meet rigorous standards for safety, quality and continuity of care while ensuring our patients are provided an exceptional Sanford experience.”
“Now more than ever, specialty pharmacies are an essential part of the patient care team and patient experience. URAC congratulates Sanford Specialty Pharmacy on their achievement of Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation. This achievement demonstrates excellence in pharmacy operations, product handling, patient education and patient management. When an organization achieves URAC accreditation, they demonstrate their commitment to improving their quality of care, which is important to patients, providers and payers,” said URAC’s President and CEO Shawn Griffin, MD.
Since 2018, the Sanford Specialty Pharmacy has expanded access to more than 250 specialty medications. For more information on the Sanford Specialty Pharmacy, visit sanfordhealth.org.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 55,000 employees and serves more than 2 million patients and nearly 415,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 58 hospitals, 289 clinic locations, 145 senior care communities, 4,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and 1,100 active clinical trials and studies. The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to nearly 80 specialties. More than 400 residents and fellows are trained each year through graduate medical education with Sanford Health fully funding and supporting 29 of the 40 available programs. Sanford Health also includes Lewis Drug, a pharmacy and retail chain with 60 locations in three states and nearly 190 pharmacists. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.
