New Initiative will Revitalize Rural Pharmacies

Key Points

Express Scripts is launching a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming healthcare in rural areas. The IndependentRx Initiative is set to revolutionize the role of local pharmacists and enhance access to essential healthcare services in underserved communities. With higher reimbursement rates, expanded offerings, and a focus on patient-centric care, this program promises to bridge the care gap and ensure that rural areas receive the quality and affordable care they deserve.

Addressing the Unique Needs of Rural Communities:

While rural communities are the backbone of our nation’s economy, they often face distinct healthcare challenges. Geographic barriers, limited provider access, workforce burnout, and a vulnerable patient mix create significant hurdles for residents seeking medical care. Many healthcare initiatives tend to overlook these unique needs, leaving rural populations underserved and disconnected from essential services.

• Geographic barriers: long distances and lack of transportation cause many patients in rural areas to delay or skip health care visits to hospitals or doctors entirely. 
• Limited Provider Access:  while almost 20 percent of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, less than 10 percent of U.S. physicians practice in these communities. 
• Workforce burnout: According to a recent study, one in 5 physicians and 2 in 5 nurses intend to leave their practice altogether. 
• Vulnerable Patient Mix:  The rural patient population is often older, sicker and poorer compared to national averages. 

In recent years, industry leaders considered replacing pharmacists in rural areas with technicians who would be responsible for remote order entry and medicine verification.  

The rationale was that eliminating the pharmacist was a good way to reduce costs when the budget was tight. 

Empowering Local Pharmacies:

Recognizing the invaluable role of independent pharmacies in rural areas, Express Scripts is rolling out comprehensive support through the IndependentRx Initiative. This initiative offers higher reimbursement rates to independent pharmacies serving as the sole healthcare providers within a 10-mile radius of Express Scripts customers. By rewarding performance-based outcomes, such as dispensing 90-day prescriptions to promote medical adherence, pharmacies are incentivized to deliver exceptional care while maximizing patient convenience.

Expanding Healthcare Services:

Under the IndependentRx Initiative, independent pharmacists gain the opportunity to broaden their scope of practice and provide a comprehensive range of healthcare services. Express Scripts will reimburse pharmacists for health screenings, testing, and clinical services, including administering COVID-19 and other vaccines, prescribing acute infection medications, conducting virus testing, and offering behavioral and lifestyle counseling for smoking cessation and nutrition. Additionally, pharmacists will receive specialized training to recognize and address substance use disorders, including opioid addiction and the administration of naloxone.

Transforming Rural Healthcare:

This collaborative effort between Express Scripts and independent pharmacies will not only bring convenience and improved access to patients but also create new business opportunities for pharmacies. By leveraging the expertise and trust that pharmacists have built within their communities, this initiative aims to ensure that rural areas receive the same high-quality, affordable care as their urban counterparts. The goal is to empower rural communities, eliminate healthcare disparities, and redefine the notion that where you live should never dictate the level of care you receive.

“Independent pharmacies already add value beyond dispensing medications – and they can do even more,” said Adam Kautzner, Pharm.D., President of Express Scripts.  “We need to ensure rural communities have access to the same quality, affordable care as those living in densely populated communities. Where you live shouldn’t dictate the type of care you receive or how long you have to wait for it,” 

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