Pharmacists Could Ease Doctor Shortage

In the United States, pharmacists are poised to help address a growing shortage of physicians, projected to reach up to 86,000 by 2036. Like the transformation of blood transfusions from a heroic act to standard care in the mid-20th century, community pharmacies possess the clinical capability and patient access to provide crucial services. However, a lack of standardized payment and system infrastructure currently hinders widespread adoption of pharmacist-led clinical services.

Several initiatives are underway to solve this, including the American Pharmacists Association’s efforts to align payer-pharmacy collaboration and regional models like the Alliance for Integrated Medication Management’s Transformation Zones. These efforts face hurdles, including resistance from some medical groups and limitations within federal healthcare laws. States like Maryland and North Carolina are leading the way with policies reimbursing pharmacist services.

While clinical services offer higher profit margins for pharmacies and potential savings of thousands of dollars per patient annually, consistent scaling requires overcoming fragmentation and establishing a neutral network for standardized billing and credentialing. The work continues to build the necessary infrastructure for broader access to care.