Webinar Recap: Is 2024 The Year of the Pharmacist?

If you missed our recent webinar titled " Is 2024 The Year of the Pharmacist? Harnessing the Potential of Pharmacy Interoperability & Advanced Practice ", don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. Here’s a quick recap of the main points we discussed, packed with insights from our expert presenters including Kim Boyd, Regulatory Resource Center Lead and Pooja Babbrah, PBM & Pharmacy Practice Lead.

Key Takeaways

We started the session by diving into the policy landscape, shedding light on significant initiatives and changes shaping the current and future growth of data fluidity in healthcare.

Regulatory Landscape:

• HHS Initiatives: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is driving policies for patient data exchange and transparency.
• CMS and ONC: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) are setting crucial interoperability standards.

Next, we explored how the role of pharmacists has evolved significantly over the years, moving beyond traditional responsibilities to becoming integral collaborators within the healthcare team.

Pharmacy Practice Evolution:

• Historical Role Expansion: From H1N1 to COVID-19, pharmacists have proven critical in public health emergencies and expanding their role as trusted providers of clinical care.
• Provider Status: Delaware became the 50th state to authorize collaborative practice agreements, recognizing pharmacists as key care providers.

In response to this expanding role, pharmacies need to rethink their business models and operational strategies.

Business Model Transformation:

• Rethinking Operations: Pharmacies are integrating clinical services into traditional dispensing models.
• Revenue Strategies: Embracing value-based care and telehealth services is essential for future growth.

Technology plays a crucial role in enabling pharmacists to deliver more personalized and efficient care. We explored various technological advancements and their impact on pharmacy practice.

Technology and Interoperability:

• Patient Access to Data: Increasing patient access to their medical records, including medication data, is crucial.

API Utilization: Like other industries, healthcare is embracing the use of APIs to access, exchange, and use valuable clinical and patient data and while FHIR APIs has been a growing standard in the industry and for policymakers to grab onto, other API standards are in use as well, such as JSON. Despite the progress, significant challenges remain in achieving seamless interoperability and integrating pharmacists into the healthcare system.

Challenges and Solutions:

• Inconsistent Data Standards: Variability in data standards across systems hinders seamless exchange.
• Manual Entry: Non-digital records contribute to data fragmentation.
• HIE Integration: Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) often exclude pharmacies or the cost for pharmacies to connect with an HIE is a barrier, limiting data access.
• Provider Hesitation: Some providers resist data sharing due to privacy concerns and unclear ROI.

Looking ahead, we discussed several key considerations and strategies to overcome these barriers and enhance the role of pharmacists.

Future Considerations:

• Funding Models: Sustainable funding is necessary to support system implementation and pharmacist services.
• Collaboration: Enhanced collaboration between medical and pharmacy standards groups like HL7 and NCPDP is needed.
• Pilot Programs: Implementing pharmacy-led pilot programs can demonstrate the effectiveness of expanded pharmacy roles.

We also highlighted successful examples of innovative pharmacy practices making a real difference.

Examples of Success:

• Ohio State: A comprehensive primary care model where pharmacists are paid per member per month.
• Moose Pharmacy: Partnering with local clinics to meet quality metrics.
• University of Michigan: Embedding pharmacists in primary and specialty care clinics for population health management.

Finally, we provided recommendations for various stakeholders on how to navigate and thrive in this evolving landscape.

Recommendations:

• Policy and Standard Adoption: Encourage the adoption and certification of existing NCPDP standards for data exchange.
• Technology Investment: Pharmacies should invest in advanced technology solutions to facilitate clinical data exchange.
• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with payers and self-funded employers to establish value-based contracts.

To sum it up, 2024 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for pharmacists. Our experts highlighted significant strides in pharmacy practice, regulatory advancements, and technology integration. If your organization—whether a payer, health tech vendor, or pharmacy—wants to discuss how to leverage these trends, feel free to reach out to me at brian.dwyer@pocp.com. Let’s chat and see how we can help.

For more detailed insights, check out the full webinar recording and slides here.