This study evaluates health-system specialty pharmacy (HSSP) pharmacists' roles in medication discontinuations, switches, and dose changes, focusing on cost avoidance. HSSP pharmacists intervene to ensure safe and effective use of specialty medications, preventing unnecessary costs. Pharmacists successfully avoided $129,705 - $162,133 in direct costs through their interventions. These findings support the employment and role of pharmacists in HSSPs, extending beyond prescription filling.

This study assessed TB and HBV screening completion rates at the time of immune response mediator initiation and reasons for incomplete screening in health-system specialty pharmacies. Most patients with a health-system specialty pharmacy referral are screened for TB and HBV prior to treatment. Omitted safety screening is commonly driven by the prescribing provider.

This commentary provides practical recommendations for managing VMAT2 inhibitors. With limited clinical trial and real world data on this topic, the case examples and firsthand experience described are useful to clinicians and pharmacists who manage VMAT2 inhibitors.

This study describes differences in asthma-related clinical outcomes by race in patients initiating biologic therapy. There was a difference in clinic engagement between groups based on race. Cancellations were higher in patients that identify as White, and no shows were higher in patients that identify as Black or African American/Other. Identifying barriers that lead to reduced clinical engagement may allow for improved health in these patients.

This multisite national effort aims to identify measures deemed important and usable by specialty stakeholders that can be standardized and implemented in specialty pharmacy practice to ensure the safe, appropriate, and effective use of specialty medications in patients with RA. This poster describes the study methodology and response rate.

This prospective randomized study evaluated the implementation and effectiveness of using an electronic early treatment assessment and monitoring questionnaire for oral anticancer medication. The questionnaire was well received by pharmacists and patients. Patients who responded to the questionnaire were significantly more likely to have a pharmacist intervention related to adverse effects, demonstrating the effectiveness of using this technology tool for early monitoring.

This study evaluated the specialty pharmacist's role in medication access, treatment monitoring, and reducing maribavir waste. Pharmacists facilitated maribavir access by obtaining timely insurance prior authorizations (median = 1 day) and intervened to reduce 28 fills across 94 dispenses to avoid waste. Maribavir quantity was reduced in 10 dispenses during the final treatment course, based on CMV levels and time until next lab appointment, which resulted in $119,517 - $149,396 in avoided costs.

This study compared the number, type, and time spent on interventions for patients filling non-MS neurology specialty medications at IHSSPs versus non-IHSSP pharmacies. IHSSP patients experienced greater variety and frequency of clinical interventions, including a third of interventions related to therapy changes which could impact patient outcomes. Financial assistance recommendations were more necessary for non-IHSSP patients.

The purpose of the project is to redesign and align the specialty pharmacy Pharmacist Intervention (PI) Assessment with pharmacy organizations, published literature, and pharmacist feedback, allowing detailed documentation that clearly communicates the reason for and outcome of the pharmacist intervention. Key lessons learned are featured to outline steps for replicating the project in other health systems.