Project IMPACT: Test and Treat. Increasing access to Test and Treat services through community pharmacy

Background: Community pharmacists are able to provide patients with access to high-quality Test and Treat services for respiratory illness utilizing innovative rapid molecular diagnostic tests, and to prescribe medication treatment when appropriate. Methods: The primary objective of this prospective health economics and outcomes research was to evaluate the impact that pharmacists can have on patients through compensated and scalable rapid molecular Test and Treat services for COVID-19, influenza, and strep infection. Patients were surveyed to evaluate economic considerations and analyze the pharmacy-based care model. Results: Pharmacists enrolled 253 patients, among whom there were 71 positive test results and 259 negative test results. Of the 71 patients with a positive test, 26 were prescribed medications, and 23 were dispensed medication within one day of the positive test (88%). Overall, 98% of the survey respondents indicated satisfaction with the Test and Treat service. Furthermore, although the service was free to the patients enrolled, over 80% of survey respondents indicated a willingness to pay. Survey respondents indicated a very high opinion of the test itself, with 98% indicating that the use of rapid molecular testing gave them comfort in being tested in the pharmacy. Conclusions: Community pharmacists in this research were able to perform high-quality rapid molecular testing for respiratory illness, which led to significant interventions and high patient satisfaction. The pharmacists were able to serve patients who indicated that, if not for the pharmacy, they may otherwise have sought higher acuity care unnecessarily. When compared to similar testing service offerings through other providers and settings, the Test and Treat service demonstrated meaningful cost savings to the patient and the health care system. These results portend a strong case for establishing legislative authority for pharmacists to conduct these services throughout the U.S.