URAC’s Health Equity and Pharmacy Accreditations Offer a Path Forward
A recent article in Pharmacy Times highlights a troubling trend: the expansion of pharmacy deserts in the United States. From 2018 to 2021, more pharmacies closed than opened, with the hardest-hit areas being low-income neighborhoods with large Black and Latinx populations. These closures create serious access issues, especially for patients who rely on pharmacists for care coordination, chronic disease management and medication counseling.
Workforce shortages also play a role. A recent National Academies workshop explored the need to strengthen the pharmacy pipeline, including training opportunities and practice model innovation. Participants called for new ways to ensure equitable access to pharmacy services nationwide.
How URAC Accreditation Can Help
URAC’s Health Equity Accreditation helps health care organizations take a structured, standards-based approach to identifying and addressing disparities, such as pharmacy deserts, in the communities they serve. The accreditation supports efforts to improve access, promote workforce diversity and build long-term strategies to close equity gaps.
URAC also offers a comprehensive suite of pharmacy accreditations that includes specialty, mail service, community, infusion and pharmacy benefit management. Each program is designed to strengthen quality, safety and access, ensuring that pharmacies of all types can better serve patients, even in underserved or rural areas.
By pursuing URAC accreditation, pharmacy organizations can demonstrate their commitment to care equity, operational excellence and innovation in patient-centered services.
- Read the full article on Pharmacy Times here
- Learn more about URAC’s Health Equity accreditation here
- Learn more about URAC’s Pharmacy accreditation suite here
