The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) emphasizes pharmacists' critical role in patient education and health care outcomes. Pharmacists are responsible for providing accurate, understandable information tailored to each patient's unique needs to ensure safe and effective medication use. Whether through oral, written, electronic, or visual means, pharmacists must exercise professional judgment to deliver essential information that fosters positive health outcomes. Pharmacy facilities should support private, comfortable in-person and virtual communication, supplemented by materials that suit the patient's needs.
Additionally, AMCP recognizes the importance of positive lifestyle choices in treatment success, advocating for pharmacists to educate patients on lifestyle modifications, such as smoking cessation or diet and exercise, as part of comprehensive care.
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) underscores pharmacists' vital role in disease prevention through patient assessment and immunizations, particularly for those at the highest risk. AMCP supports legislative and regulatory measures at both federal and state levels that authorize pharmacists and qualified pharmacy staff to provide immunization services under appropriate supervision and state law. Furthermore, AMCP advocates for including comprehensive education and training on patient assessment, immunization promotion, and administration within pharmacy school curricula to ensure pharmacists are fully equipped to fulfill this essential public health responsibility.
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) highlights the essential role of pharmacists in outcomes research to enhance patient care and efficiency. This involves identifying treatment or procedural issues, implementing targeted interventions to address deficiencies, and evaluating results to improve care for specific patient populations. To ensure appropriate medication use, better patient outcomes, and cost-effective healthcare, managed care systems must rely on credible and relevant research.
Pharmacists in diverse practice settings play a critical role in advancing the objectives of the Healthy People 2030 initiative by improving health outcomes and ensuring the delivery of high-quality care. Pharmacists promote safe and effective medication use through patient education and communication, encourage non-pharmacologic lifestyle changes, and provide essential services such as immunizations, medication therapy management (MTM), and chronic disease management. They also conduct health economics outcomes research to support evidence-based practices and advocate for collaborative care models that enhance patient access to comprehensive, coordinated healthcare. By aligning their efforts with Healthy People 2030 goals, pharmacists contribute to reducing health disparities, improving chronic disease management, and fostering healthier communities.
AMCP supports the recognition of pharmacists as providers under the Social Security Act, enabling them to practice at the top of their licensure.1 AMCP recognizes patient education as a cornerstone of health care, and managed care pharmacists play a vital role in delivering tailored, accessible information through various methods, including verbal communication, written materials, and digital platforms. By emphasizing health literacy and cultural competency, managed care pharmacists ensure that education and care plans effectively address the diverse needs of patients, fostering equitable healthcare outcomes. Pharmacists are well-positioned to encourage evidence-based positive lifestyle changes, such as smoking cessation counseling and dietary or exercise modifications, to improve overall health. Additionally, AMCP supports federal and state legislation that empowers pharmacists and qualified staff to administer immunizations per state law. To sustain this role, AMCP affirms that pharmacy schools should include patient assessment, immunization promotion, and administration training within their curricula.
Additionally, collaboration with organizations like the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)2 and involvement in comparative clinical effectiveness research managed care pharmacists significantly contribute to the development and the critical evaluation of published literature, design of outcomes research studies identification, and execution of intervention strategies. This work ensures patients have access to treatments they need at a cost they can afford. Pharmacists serve as an important bridge between patients, payers, and physicians by advocating for comprehensive care that impacts the patient's overall health.
The article “Advancing Outcomes Research in Managed Care Pharmacy: A Call to Action” highlights managed care pharmacists' role in improving patient care through outcome evaluations and suggests ways to increase the use of health economics outcomes research findings in formulary development.4 Evidence shows that the insights from outcomes research used by managed care pharmacists help design cost-effective solutions, enhancing healthcare delivery across diverse populations.5
A systematic review of MTM evaluating 44 studies showed that MTM improved medication appropriateness, reduced medication dosing, decreased overall health plan expenditures on medication costs, and increased medication adherence.6 MTM interventions also reduced the risk of hospitalization for patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart failure.
In addition, a cross-sectional study using claims data found that pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers.7 This emphasizes the essential role of pharmacists in patient care, their significant contribution to patient care, and the substantial impact they could have if allowed to fully utilize their licensure in enhancing healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
To conclude, findings from the background and evidence suggest that pharmacists are essential in optimizing patient outcomes and reducing health care costs, and their recognition as healthcare providers will enhance their contributions to primary care, making healthcare more accessible, cost-effective, safe, and aligned with the needs of diverse populations.
The Pharmacist’s Role
• 02/05/2025 - Combined associated historical statements and introduced “Background” and “Evidence” sections.
AMCP offers a wide variety of educational opportunities, from events and webinars to online training.
