Finding funding for pharmacy clinical services is one of the bigger challenges
Finding funding for pharmacy clinical services is one of the bigger challenges
Small hospital uses variety of sources
Although research supports having pharmacists involved in clinical care, hospital executives still might balk at the cost of these programs.
There are disjointed reimbursement models, but it can be made financially feasible, as this example from a small Minnesota health care system shows.
Paynesville (MN) Area Health Care System of Paynesville, MN, has invested in having pharmacists assist with medication reconciliation and other areas of clinical care because of the patient safety benefits and other health care outcomes. But the hospital also has found some financial benefit in doing so, says Todd Lemke, PharmD, CDE, director of pharmacy service.
"We were able to reduce some costs as far as reducing length of stay (LOS) for patients," he explains. "Also, physicians at outpatient clinics can see more patients when we provide patient education."
The pharmacist program is funded through a variety of means, although it's not 100% self- sustaining, Lemke says.
For instance, the funding partly comes from the facility fee charged by the clinic, he says.
"We're a hospital-based clinic with critical access status," Lemke explains. "With clinic billing, there's a professional fee and a facility fee, and if a physician is seeing a patient, the doctor can bill both for the professional and facility fee, and we're part of the facility fee."
Also, since the health system is an American Diabetes Association-accredited education site, it can bill for diabetes education to patients, he adds.
"And in Minnesota, we can bill the state for medical assistance for medication management and receive reimbursement that way," Lemke says. "For private pay or people with private insurance, we have some contracts with some of those sources to provide medication management services as well."
However, the biggest financial benefit might be the part that isn't reflected on an invoice and that's the time that pharmacists save physicians.
"Our ability to allow providers to be more productive probably makes up for any unreimbursed costs," Lemke says. "Our physicians are our biggest supporters because whenever the pharmacists aren't available in the clinic for any reason, we hear about it — they like to have us there."
Although research supports having pharmacists involved in clinical care, hospital executives still might balk at the cost of these programs.Subscribe Now for Access
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