Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Receives the NCQA 'Seal Of Approval'

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has received the prestigious certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its educational resources and programs related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A chronic illness that may result in severe morbidity, COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both, is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States. (1)

To address this problem and inform the public about COPD, Boehringer Ingelheim has and continues to raise awareness about this serious disease through education and initiatives for patients, healthcare practitioners, and health plans. As a result of these efforts, the company has become one of just a few recognized by the NCQA for their efforts.

"This recognition is an important milestone that highlights our commitment to making a difference in the management of chronic diseases," said Chris Barrett, Senior Vice President, Managed Markets. "Boehringer Ingelheim is dedicated to helping to improve the lives of people living with serious chronic diseases such as COPD, and we continue to collaborate with the NCQA as we develop health management programs in other important areas, such as stroke and prevention of secondary stroke."

Margaret E. O'Kane, President of NCQA agrees. "Earning NCQA Disease Management Certification indicates that a disease management (DM) program excels in the specific area in which it was reviewed, either program design, patient outreach, or DM systems. It's an accomplishment of which to be very proud."

About Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation (Ridgefield, CT) and a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies. The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 137 affiliates in 47 countries and approximately 38,400 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

For more information, please visit http://us.boehringer-ingelheim.comwww.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/docs/cht-book.htm

CONTACT: Marybeth C. McGuire, Associate Director, Corporate
Communications, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
+1-203-798-4801, or marybeth.mcguire@boehringer-ingelheim.com

Web site: http://us.boehringer-ingelheim.com/
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/docs/cht-book.htm/