Sean Chantarapanont, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacy manager for Munster, Ind.-based Community Healthcare System.
He recently spoke with Becker's Hospital Review about which drug-pricing reforms pharmacy leaders should pay attention to, how his health system is working to improve medication accessibility and advice for his fellow pharmacy leaders.
Here's what he had to say:
Editor's Note: Responses were lightly edited for length and clarity.
Question: What drug-pricing reforms should pharmacy leaders pay attention to and why?
Sean Chantarapanont: Pharmacy leaders should pay attention to 340B Drug Discount program changes if they qualify. Additionally, the recently proposed CREATES Act of 2019. Passing of these changes could significantly impact future drug expenditures and the pharmacy's bottom line.
Q: What major changes in pharmacy have you seen in recent years that you would have never expected when you started in the industry?
SC: Drug shortages.They have continued to worsen and impact patient care.
Q: How is your organization improving medication accessibility for patients?
SC: We are working closely with our hospital-based outpatient pharmacy to promote fill of prescriptions before patients leave the hospital. We are also working to ensure medications are covered by patients' insurance and facilitating the application of any applicable manufacturer discount programs.
Q: If you could pass along a piece of advice to another hospital pharmacy leader, what would it be?
SC: My advice to hospital pharmacy leaders is to be flexible and agile, as change is always constant with regulatory standards, reimbursement and development of new therapies.
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