Why Pharmacy Provider Status Matters to Informaticists
by
Mike Schlesselman
What’s the big deal with pharmacy provider service? As a pharmacy informaticist, I’m not going to be billing for my services. So why should I pay attention to all of the hype about contacting my Senator and Representative to get them to support H.R. 592 and S.314? For me, at the end of the day it’s all about patients and providing the best and most effective care for those patients. As pharmacy informacists, our goal is to provide technology and information systems that allow our colleagues to practice at the top of their license.
Many pharmacist provide clinical services, but there is no way to consistently get reimbursed for these services. Being recognized by the federal government will pave the way for consistent reimbursement of services. Consistent reimbursement means a consistent revenue stream that can assist in financial stability for the pharmacy. Financial stability means the pharmacy department and hospital may have a means to maintain or enhance pharmacy informatics.
By obtaining provider status, pharmacists will be able to provide care to populations that may not have previously received care. At its core, pharmacist provider status is to provide care and services for the underserved. Provider status will allow us as pharmacists to be formally recognized for our knowledge and expertise. Similarly, provider status will us as informaticists to provide our expertise to another aspect of the healthcare system. Meaningful Use has thrust many into the EMR world where we build order sets for other providers. Provider status will allow us to build order sets/workflows for the pharmacist providers.
For our profession to grow both clinically and in the informatics realm, pharmacist must be recognized as providers. Supporting H.R. 592 and S.314 and getting your congress representative to support these bills it critical to improving the care of patients across the country. Without patients and strong viable health system, none of us would be able to practice in the pharmacy informatics world as we currently do. If you have not sent an email to encourage your Senator or Representative to support these bills, please take time to send them a message. This is a republic and your representatives do listen to you. If they do not hear from you, they do not know where you stand on the issue. ASHP has a number of resources available to assist you in contacting your Senator or Representative. Go to http://ashp.org/menu/Advocacy/ProviderStatus to access these tools and watch the progress of this legislation. With everyone’s help we can be recognized by the federal government in the same light as physicians, nurses, dieticians, social workers and physical therapists