ASHP National Survey of Health-System Specialty Pharmacy Practice-2020

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Health Systems Management
• Specialty Pharmaceuticals

Background:

• Specialty pharmacies are critical for managing complex, high-cost medications.
• Understanding the current landscape of health-system specialty pharmacy practice is essential for strategic development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the findings of the inaugural American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) National Survey of Health-System Specialty Pharmacy Practice.
• To characterize the operational models, services, and challenges of health-system specialty pharmacies.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed electronically to 230 leaders in health-system specialty pharmacies.
• Data collection utilized an online survey application, with participants identified through ASHP member lists and prior survey data.
• A response rate of 53.0% was achieved.

Main Results:

• Most surveyed pharmacies dispense ≤30,000 prescriptions annually, have revenue ≤$100 million, and are 340B eligible.
• A significant majority (68.8%) face limitations in dispensing due to payer networks or drug exclusivity.
• Integrated practice models feature EHR access (100%), dedicated staff (64.9% pharmacists, 57.7% technicians), and pharmacist involvement in treatment decisions (64.9%).

Conclusions:

• Health-system specialty pharmacies function as integrated advanced practice models.
• These models effectively manage specialty medication use across the continuum of care.
• Future challenges include navigating payer restrictions, 340B program changes, and reimbursement pressures.