ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Humana, Pfizer  and Walgreens are collaborating with the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) to evaluate the impact of pharmacist-provided care on medication use, health and economic outcomes in patients with diabetes. The project brings together national leaders in pharmacy, care delivery, medications, and health plan administration to demonstrate the value of collaboration between pharmacists and healthcare payers in the delivery of patient-centered care.

The organizations will assess the impact of Walgreens’ pharmacist-provided care program in a population of patients with diabetes over an 18-month period. The evaluation will focus on diabetes control and improvement, appropriate medication use and adherence, and overall health status. Health economic outcomes will also be assessed, including total healthcare costs and resource utilization.

“Innovative, value-based pharmacist-provided care can improve patient experiences and care quality,” PQA CEO Laura Cranston said. “PQA is thrilled to facilitate this pioneering collaboration with three of our members, who are national leaders in delivering high-quality care, to measure the impact of community pharmacy on patient care and outcomes. Patient-centered care is the standard to which we all strive, and pharmacy has a vital role in helping patients and those who care for them achieve their goals.”

Results from this research project will add to the body of evidence on pharmacist-provided care models. Expanding this evidence base is important to the greater implementation of – and payment for – pharmacist-provided care in value-based models.

“As a trained pharmacist, I know the vital role pharmacists play in the patient journey as a key touchpoint for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes,” said Justin McCarthy, senior vice president, Patient and Health Impact Group, Pfizer. “We are pleased to work with other leaders in the healthcare sector that share our goal to improve patient care and health outcomes.  This collaboration is just one of the ways we continue to work across the healthcare sector to deliver on that shared vision of enhancing the patient experience.”

“Our pharmacists are central to the well-being of communities across the nation and play a critical role in supporting patient health as part of the overall care team,” said Rick Gates, senior vice president of pharmacy and healthcare, Walgreens. “We’re excited to partner on this study as it supports our efforts to ensure that patients have convenient access to personalized, high-quality diabetes care that improves health outcomes.”

“Humana believes in the power of pharmacists and their ability to positively impact patient care and improve quality outcomes,” said Michael Taday, vice president of Humana Pharmacy Clinical Strategies and Operations. “We look forward to collaborating with PQA and Walgreens on a program that addresses diabetes care in a holistic manner and demonstrates community pharmacy’s value in achieving comprehensive, data-driven disease management and quality performance. This collaborative partnership enhances Humana’s mission to inspire health and well-being for each member we serve and demonstrates our desire to innovate through partnerships across the healthcare industry.”

The project will begin in August and the collaboration partners plan to present results in 2022. The project puts into practice recommendations from PQA’s 2019 action guide to foster the adoption of pharmacist-provided care.