Ohio pharmacists want to expand role with patients

Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 9, 2008

Ohio pharmacists say that if insurers payed them to have one-on-one time with patients with chronic diseases and on multiple medications, it would improve health and save money. Supporters point to a 10-year effort in Asheville, NC, that includes pharmacist care for patients with chronic problems as they make the pitch to health insurers and others. The goal is to persuade the insurers to pay pharmacists for the care and coordination they'll offer to these chronic care patients, who may be seeing multiple doctors and going to multiple drugstores for their medications.