Community pharmacy well positioned for ACA opportunities

Community pharmacists are well positioned to take advantage of new models of patient care delivery under the Affordable Care Act (ACT) as individuals enroll in the new Healthcare Insurance Marketplace and under Medicaid expansion, according to Carol Kelly, NACDS senior vice president of government affairs and public policy, on the NACDS website.

NACDS members who attended Kelly’s session at the NACDS Total Store Expo in August, “ACA 2014-Ready for the New Healthcare Landscape?” heard that pharmacists will be able to take on a greater role in healthcare management and medicine with the adoption of such innovative delivery models as medical homes, Accountable Care Organizations, and bundled payment initiatives.

While it is too soon to know how many individuals will sign-up for health insurance through the health exchanges and Medicaid expansion, it has been reported that there are not enough primary care doctors to meet the need.

“The projected shortage of primary care physicians will provide an opportunity to expand the role of pharmacists and other non-physician health professionals in order to meet the demands of newly-insured patients,” Kelly wrote.

Under the ACA, pharmacists should be allowed to provide various healthcare services as authorized by state licensure requirements, possibly including expanded medication therapy management, chronic disease management, and immunizations.

For her complete remarks, visit the NACDS website.