Dr. Phil Baker, PHARMD, Author at Good Shepherd Health Institute

Addressing Corrupt PBM Practices: A Call to Action for Patients, Providers, and Payers

The pharmaceutical industry is at a crossroads, with Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) playing a central role in driving up prescription drug costs. As revealed in the New York Times article “How PBMs Are Driving Up Prescription Drug Costs,” these middlemen have become a fast-growing and profitable industry, often at the expense of patients and the overall health care system. This paper aims to empower patients, providers and payers with actionable strategies to combat corrupt PBM practices and work toward a more transparent, equitable and patient-centered pharmacy future.

Time Wasted and Implications for Patient Care: A Retrospective Analysis of Prescription Telephone Transfer Encounters

Prescription transfers between pharmacy chains are common, but for many patients, the process is more complex and time-consuming than it should be. Patients must locate their prescriptions at the incorrect pharmacy, contact the correct pharmacy, and request a verbal transfer. Although prescriptions can be faxed, the correct pharmacy must still call the incorrect pharmacy to request that fax. Furthermore, many states require that only pharmacists can transfer prescriptions, leaving technicians unable to assist. This restriction poses significant challenges. Currently, just 17 states allow technicians to take verbal orders for new or transferred prescriptions. In most states, pharmacists are solely responsible for handling prescription transfers, adding to their already heavy workload and increasing the risk of errors and delays.