Recognizing the pharmacist as a critical member of the patient care team, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio, in collaboration with the Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA), announced a new initiative, the UnitedHealthcare Pharmacy Care Extension program. The program utilizes community pharmacists to expand patient access to care, relieve pressure on health systems, and help drive better health outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries.
Understanding the relationships that local, community pharmacists have with their patients, UnitedHealthcare partnered with clinical experts at Ohio State University to identify two community pharmacies in Northeast Ohio, Franklin Pharmacy in Warren and Brewster Family Pharmacy in Brewster. The shared vision recognizes pharmacists for a broader range of services by including them within the broader care team and encouraging them to operate at the top of their license.
The program will utilize CPT codes for Outpatient Evaluation and Management, Transitional Care Management, and virtual check-in with an aim to reduce readmissions, unnecessary prescriptions and better manage chronic conditions. Pharmacists at both locations can leverage these resources, combined with medication expertise, to prevent adverse reactions and optimize therapies in collaboration with other health care providers to provide a new level of care to patients.
