Utilizing clinical pharmacists and a medication assistance program to improve medication access for indigent and underserved patients in primary care

<b>Best Practice Perspectives on Improving Early Detection and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease Associated With Type 2 Diabetes in Primary Care</b>

“…Including professionals from other disciplines on the health care team (e.g., nurse practitioners, physician associates, clinical pharmacists, and diabetes care and education specialists) to collaborate with physicians can help to overcome some of these barriers. For example, clinical pharmacists can help patients enroll in medication assistance programs (73), navigate the prior authorization process for medications, if required (74), and help patients understand their health insurance plans and out-of-pocket medication costs (75,76). Lack of access to a clinical pharmacist can be a barrier in some practices, but with most states now allowing collaborative practice agreements (77) and, with them, the ability to bill for services, accessibility should improve.…”

Best-Practice Perspectives on Improving Early Detection and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease Associated With Type 2 Diabetes in Primary Care

“…Including professionals from other disciplines on the health care team (e.g., nurse practitioners, physician associates, clinical pharmacists, and diabetes care and education specialists) to collaborate with physicians can help to overcome some of these barriers. For example, clinical pharmacists can help patients enroll in medication assistance programs ( 73 ); navigate the prior authorization process for medications, if required ( 74 ); and help patients understand their health insurance plans and out-of-pocket medication costs ( 75 , 76 ). Lack of access to a clinical pharmacist can be a barrier in some practices, but with most states now allowing collaborative practice agreements ( 77 ) and, with them, the ability to bill for services, accessibility should improve.…”

Accessibility reality check

“…19,20 Pharmacists can help patients who have partial or no insurance/coverage navigate the cost barriers by letting them know about available medication assistance programs and helping them through the process of obtaining that assistance. 21 Administrative Pharmacy services are available for everyone, and accessing them does not require completion of any procedural steps, applications to access services or a specific literacy/numeracy level. 14 The services often do not require appointments or referrals and are often provided at convenient times through extended hours every day of the week.…”

“…19,20 Pharmacists can help patients who have partial or no insurance/coverage navigate the cost barriers by letting them know about available medication assistance programs and helping them through the process of obtaining that assistance. 21…”