Community pharmacies are among the most accessible parts of the health care system. Their frequent contact with patients and deep roots in the communities they serve give pharmacy teams opportunities to identify patient challenges that can be hard to address. A recent initiative in Pennsylvania demonstrates exactly the power of pharmacists. 108 pharmacies that participated in the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network delivered more than 15,000 reimbursed social determinants of health screenings and provided referral services to more than 5,400 Medicaid beneficiaries.
These pharmacy teams screened patients for needs such as food insecurity, financial strain and transportation barriers, then connected them with community resources. The participating pharmacies used standardized documentation and billing processes, showing that when payers provide appropriate financial support, pharmacies can seamlessly incorporate these services into daily pharmacy operations.
The findings reinforce that pharmacies provide far more than medications. They help patients manage chronic conditions, understand treatment plans, overcome barriers to adherence and connect with services that support better health. This is especially important because even the right treatment can fall short when patients lack transportation, stable housing, nutritious food or the financial resources to follow through with care.
URAC supports these additional roles for through accreditation programs designed for organizations of different sizes and service models. Pharmacy Services Accreditation includes community dispensing and other patient-focused services, while URAC’s Excellent Health Outcomes Accreditation recognizes organizations, including pharmacies, that work to improve access, reduce disparities and achieve measurable improvements for the populations they serve.
