Managed Care Pharmacist |
Career OverviewA managed care pharmacist works for a managed care organization providing a continuum of services to patient and organization members. It is estimated that over 120 million people in the United States belong to some form of managed care organization including HMOs and pharmacy-benefit management companies.
A managed care pharmacist may play one of many roles within a managed care organization and may be involved in all aspects of the organization. A few of the roles that a managed care pharmacist may hold in a managed care organization are:
- Cost-analysis – the managed care pharmacist may work to determine the least cost options for effective drug treatment and drug therapy within the guidelines of the managed care organization.
- Protocol Development – as a protocol developer the managed care pharmacist may work with physicians and researchers to develop and write protocols for administering various drugs and drug therapies.
- Medication Reviews – the managed care pharmacist may be required to complete ongoing research on the current reviews of drugs and drug therapies both within the HMO and from outside sources.
- Contract development – the managed care pharmacist may work with pharmacists in local chains or with pharmaceutical companies to provide the required mediations for patients that are involved in the HMO.
A managed care pharmacists may have other responsibilities or roles within the managed care organization. Some managed care pharmacists may work on research designs and development with pharmaceutical companies in coordinated efforts between the two organizations.
Occasionally the managed care pharmacist may also assist with managing claims especially for medications that are outside of the current scope of protocols for the managed care organization.
Excellent management, writing and communications skills are required for a managed care pharmacist. In addition the managed care pharmacist should be comfortable working in a team environment and interacting with various professionals both medical and non-medically based.
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Career RequirementsThe managed care pharmacist must be a licensed pharmacist and meet all the requirements for licensure. All managed care pharmacists must have a Pharm-D or a Bachelor of Science with a residency program and must have competed all applicable licensure exams including the NAPLEX for all states and the MPJE for states requiring this additional exam.
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Job OutlookAs more individuals join managed care organizations the need for managed care pharmacists will continue to increase. This is anticipated to be most profound for individuals that join managed care that have serious medical conditions that will require ongoing drug therapies.
The number of these individuals with diabetes, cancer and other significant disorders will greatly increase the demand for managed care pharmacists that can work with identified groups of individuals within the managed care plan to help with education and promotion of best option drug therapies.
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Career TrackA managed care pharmacists has several options. They may choose to specialize on one of the aspects of managed care pharmacy or they may move into management either in the managed care organization or in other clinical or private venues.
Many managed care pharmacists may return to colleges and schools of pharmacy and become research or faculty members.
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CompensationMost managed care pharmacists make slightly more than either hospital or community based pharmacists. The average yearly salary for a managed care pharmacist is between $100,000 and $120,000. Those managed care pharmacists that specialize or move into management positions within the organization will earn a higher yearly salary.
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