Provider Status: Patient Demand Drives Success
- This article, authored by Troy Trygstad, PharmD, PhD, MBA, discusses the current state of community pharmacy's role in providing immunizations and expanding into primary care services.
- * There's a disconnect between public expectation for community pharmacies to provide more healthcare services (like immunizations) and the lagging legal/regulatory framework in many states.
- * The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the recognition of pharmacists as capable providers of immunizations.
Summary of the Article: The Evolving Role of Community pharmacists in Immunizations and Primary Care
This article, authored by Troy Trygstad, PharmD, PhD, MBA, discusses the current state of community pharmacy’s role in providing immunizations and expanding into primary care services. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
The Core Issue: A Policy Gap
* There’s a disconnect between public expectation for community pharmacies to provide more healthcare services (like immunizations) and the lagging legal/regulatory framework in many states.
* Changes at the CDC and FDA regarding immunization approvals have highlighted this gap.
* States are slow to update policies regarding Point-of-Care Testing (POCT),immunization ordering,and broader pharmacy-based primary care.
COVID-19 as a Catalyst
* The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the recognition of pharmacists as capable providers of immunizations.
* Governors in several states (NY, NC, MN, AZ, CA, WA, HI) issued orders allowing pharmacists to order or administer COVID-19 vaccines.
* The massive scale of pharmacist-administered COVID-19 vaccinations (over half a billion doses) demonstrated safety and efficacy, building public trust.
* Community pharmacies already handle over 90% of adult immunizations, proving convenience and accessibility.
What Drives Policy Change?
The author argues that while several factors contribute to policy changes, public demand is the most notable driver. Other factors include:
* Studies: Research demonstrating safety and cost-effectiveness is helpful, but doesn’t drive change – it supports it.
* Lobbying: Essential for navigating the political process,but limited in impact due to the relatively smaller economic power of community pharmacists compared to large pharmaceutical companies and insurers.(Community pharmacists‘ economic impact is estimated at $20 billion, but they’d rank around 100th on the Fortune 50 list.)
* Low Administrative Friction: Even with acceptance of pharmacist services, implementation can fail if getting reimbursed is too tough or costly.
In essence, the article argues that community pharmacists are ready and capable of providing more primary care services, but are hampered by outdated regulations and administrative hurdles. The success of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout has provided a strong case for expanding their role, but sustained change requires addressing the policy gap and streamlining administrative processes.