The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) stands against racial and health care injustice. AMCP acknowledges that health care disparities occur across a multitude of factors, including race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomics. To increase health care access for all, collecting, evaluating, and incorporating data on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors and evaluating the association of these factors with medication use and access is imperative. In addition, these factors should be considered when implementing interventions, developing benefit offerings, and designing formularies. AMCP supports the development and training of managed care pharmacists and other health care professionals, students, and educators in health equity-focused practices to ensure that equitable access to quality care is available to all patients, both in clinical programs and overall care.
Managed care pharmacy professionals advance health equity through various programs and interventions, including formulary management, chronic disease management, education, and research. The AMCP Health Equity Action Brief also emphasizes addressing health disparities by standardizing data collection using the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) standards at minimum, ensuring ethical data usage, and fostering trust to improve health outcomes.1 Through formulary management, managed care pharmacy professionals thoroughly evaluate evidence-based practices, ensuring patients receive the right medications at the right stage of disease progression to improve outcomes. Managed care pharmacy professionals also perform in-depth analyses, including, but not limited to, cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, cost-benefit, and cost-minimization analyses to provide equitable, safe health care for all populations.1,2 Further, managed care pharmacy professionals monitor chronic conditions and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to prevent complications and ensure the best patient outcomes.
Moreover, managed care pharmacy professionals are well-equipped to provide preventive care by encouraging immunizations and routine screenings, which promotes overall societal health. In addition, managed care pharmacy professionals educate the community on medication adherence, proper medication use, and lifestyle interventions to promote long-term health improvements and empower patients to be the champions of their health. Through conducting health economics outcomes research, managed care pharmacy professionals also identify the effects of social determinants of health and provide innovative solutions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence shows that clinical pharmacists, particularly in the managed care setting, leveraged their access to extensive population-wide data to identify gaps and mobilize resources to address health disparities.3 Their ability to analyze medical and pharmacy claims gave them a comprehensive view of community needs. It provided a unique understanding and opportunity to implement strategies that significantly improved COVID-19 vaccination rates among underserved and minority communities. By identifying areas with low vaccination coverage (often called "vaccination desserts”), engaging in outreach through texting, providing vaccine education, and collaborating with other stakeholders, managed care pharmacists played a crucial role in expanding vaccine accessibility while addressing inequities in health care delivery.
The AMCP Health Equity Action Brief and Health Disparities Landscape Assessment White Paper outline several measures by which managed care organizations are addressing health inequalities for patients with disabilities.1,4 These measures include promoting integrated care models and enhancing provider education with the goals of reducing disparities in health outcomes, supporting adherence, and improving quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
AMCP also acknowledges health equity accreditation. URAC and the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) offer the opportunity for organizations to pursue health equity accreditation to ensure equitable care for all members.5,6
More information can be found in the Health Disparities section of the AMCP website.
AMCP offers a wide variety of educational opportunities, from events and webinars to online training.
