OH pharmacists lobby health plans to expand patient care role

Fresh from the success of a 10-year demonstration in Asheville, North Carolina, Ohio pharmacists are lobbying insurers to convince them to pay for care coordination services. The pharmacists contend that they're among the only ones in a position to know all of the drugs patients are taking, particularly those with complex, chronic conditions such as diabetes or asthma.

The pharmacists are taking their cue from the "Asheville Model," under which the city of Asheville and another local employer paid a fee to pharmacists to consult with patients. The program also gave employees an incentive to see the pharmacists, such as waived co-pays. The program has produced positive health results, including improvements in patient blood pressure and cholesterol levels, researchers have found.

To learn more about this initiative:
- read this Cleveland Plain Dealer piece

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