GoodRx Guide
GoodRx for Pharmacists
Information pharmacists can trust
Pharmacists are busier than ever, and your time is valuable. Here, you’ll find resources to stay on top of your career and your practice.
Read more about:
Pharmacy practice, from pharmacogenetics to digital health
Pharmacists’ role in our healthcare system, from strengthening public health to combating the opioid epidemic
Trends in pharmacy, like the evolving role of inpatient pharmacy
These stories are written by a diverse team of pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and healthcare attorneys.
Drug pricing and affordability
Despite the importance of drug affordability, pharmacists receive little education on it in school.
Community pharmacists can help their patients overcome financial challenges with a firm understanding of drug pricing and the inner workings of prescription drug insurance and pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs). In addition to prescription drug insurance, patients have options to get the best price on their prescriptions or even to get their prescriptions free.
Dive deep into drug pricing, affordability, and medication access programs here.
Celebrating pharmacists
Recognizing healthcare providers who are doing exciting work or overcoming significant obstacles can provide a much-needed source of inspiration.
Meet pharmacists who are making a difference in their communities and in the lives of those they serve. These pharmacists practice in a wide range of settings, doing incredible things through their everyday work. Learn about African American trailblazers in pharmacy and about an HIV pharmacist who transitioned from community pharmacy to serving her LGBT community.
Pharmacy law and compliance
Pharmacy law and compliance are complex. Even the most experienced pharmacists can struggle to keep up with rapid changes in drug insurance and PBM policies, as well as operations best practices.
And the stakes are high: Noncompliance can lead to fines, chargebacks, and even suspension or revocation of a pharmacy license.
Legislation changes regularly to reflect advances in practice, like vaccine administration, medication therapy management services, and pharmacogenomics.
Following best practices in pharmacy operations can not only reduce risks but also improve workflow and patient safety by reducing the possibility of a medication error.
Career development
Periodically reflecting on and developing your career helps you reach your full potential — regardless of which stage of your career you’re in.
Career development goals don’t have to be about traditional definitions of success, like a higher position or higher salary. They can also be about finding a calling, effectively managing money, transitioning to a new career or new specialty, giving back to the profession, and caring for yourself.
Healthcare and pharmacy practice around the world
Pharmacy practice can vary from country to country. We focus on promoting the exchange of knowledge among pharmacists from different countries. In examining our differences, we can view our own system in a new light and potentially find opportunities for improvement.
Explore pharmacy practice in places like Finland, Switzerland, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates. See how pharmacists are taking care of their communities, learn how things like licensing and drug pricing work overseas, and find out how pharmacists become licensed in their home countries.
Recommended read: A Look at the Community Pharmacy Structure in Australia
Common questions
Pharmacy practice is more advanced than ever. New areas such as medication synchronization, pharmacogenomics, and direct patient care are poised to play an ever-expanding role in improving healthcare quality while controlling cost.
However, pharmacists face challenges, like:
The inability to bill as a provider for patient care under Medicare
Increasing financial pressures on community pharmacies from DIR fees and reduced reimbursement
The need to adapt to shifting consumer trends, like home delivery and telemedicine, and be provided the regulatory and financial structure to succeed with those services
Shifting demand for pharmacists due to consolidation and expansion of mail order as well as expanding roles for pharmacy technicians
Medication access refers to an individual’s ability to get the most appropriate medications to manage their health conditions and stay healthy. Barriers to medication access include affordability, insurance formularies, health literacy, and manufacturer shortages.
Lack of medication access has been associated with poorer outcomes and increased hospitalization. There are wide disparities in medication access across the U.S. due to differences in access to pharmacies, lack of insurance, undocumented status, and medical mistrust.
In addition to traditional prescription dispensing, pharmacists in the community are involved in numerous programs to keep patients healthy, like:
Vaccine administration
Pharmacogenomics
Medication therapy management
The prescribing and monitoring of certain medications, like birth control and therapy for smoking cessation
Inpatient pharmacists have moved beyond the central hospital pharmacy to specialize in numerous areas, like pediatrics, critical care, infectious diseases, and oncology.
Inpatient pharmacists help control costs and improve quality by:
Participating in pharmacy and therapeutics committees
Monitoring medication errors and designing systems to reduce the risk of an error
Rounding with the medical team
Monitoring the use of antibiotics within the hospital
Assisting with transitions of care
References
The American Pharmacists Association. (2021). Pharmacy’s top priority: Medicare provider status recognition.
Board of Pharmacy Specialties. (2022). Home page.
Dale, S.K., et al. (2016). Medical mistrust is related to lower longitudinal medication adherence among African-American males with HIV. Journal of Health Psychology.
Heisler, M., et al. (2010). Hospitalizations and deaths among adults with cardiovascular disease who underuse medications because of cost: A longitudinal analysis. Med Care.
National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations. (2018). Pharmacist prescribing: Statewide protocols and more.
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores. (2022). DIR fee relief: Reducing costs, improving health.
Sobeski, L.M., et al. (2021). Medication access: Policy and practice opportunities for pharmacists. Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.
Toulouse, C., et al. (2016). Continuous access to medication and health outcomes in uninsured adults with type 2 diabetes. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021). Occupational outlook handbook: Pharmacists.
