New patient relationship tool helps pharmacists find savings for customers who need it most

SAN DIEGO — One of the biggest challenges to patient adherence is that patients can’t take their medications if they can’t afford them. In December, McKesson developed a solution for its customers to help their patients stay adherent with their prescriptions.



Since then, almost 14,000 pharmacies have taken advantage of McKesson Patient Relationship Solutions’ LoyaltyScript@Retail program, a resource tool designed to boost adherence by providing pharmacists in-store, online, searchable access to medication financial assistance.



“Both sides of the equation, manufacturers and pharmacy operators, are really embracing pharmacy as a channel to access co-pay support for patients,” Stacey Irving, VP Channel Marketing MPRS, told Drug Store News. “And patients are increasingly looking to the pharmacy as a resource to help them address financial barriers they’re facing with their medication adherence,” she said. “It’s important for customer retention because it’s as competitive as ever out there. Pharmacies are genuinely focused on retaining patients and providing them value.”



According to McKesson research, more than one-third of patients ask their pharmacist about lower cost medications and 71% would be more likely to fill their prescription if the pharmacist could help deliver those savings.



LoyaltyScript@Retail can help pharmacists add value to their patient relationships, Irving added. “It’s a catalyst to start a dialogue and a way to strengthen that relationship,” she said. “Pharmacy has an opportunity to truly transform the cost and convenience of health care,” Irving added. “By providing patients the timely and relevant support they need, pharmacy is a critical part of the  solution,” she said.



“The macro trend of pharmacies really engaging in adherence solutions and looking at different ways to alleviate barriers with their patients, that’s where LoyaltyScript@Retail is relevant,” Irving said. “Pharmacists enjoy being able to directly help patients, and they  are using this solution as a way to engage patients in impactful conversations about adherence and the importance of their medications.”



Programs designed to help improve adherence were a major focus among the solutions on display at McKesson ideaShare 2015. The reason is simple, and the benefits go beyond helping to improve top-line sales with more prescriptions filled. Improving, and more importantly tracking, adherence will be a fundamental component of reimbursement as health care continues to shift from a fee-for-service to a quality care model. And pharmacies that can improve patient adherence and provide measured outcomes data will be attractive partners to all health systems and employers.