Comparison of provider satisfaction with specialty pharmacy services in integrated health-system and external practice models: A multisite survey

Abstract

Disclaimer In an effort to expedite the publication of articles related to the COVID-19 pandemic, AJHP is posting these manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. Purpose The purpose of this study is to obtain insight into providers’ satisfaction with services offered by health-system integrated specialty pharmacies and to determine whether providers’ perceptions of services offered under an integrated model differ from perceptions of external specialty pharmacy services. Methods A multi-site, cross-sectional, online survey of specialty clinic healthcare providers at 10 academic health systems with integrated specialty pharmacies was conducted. The questionnaire was developed by members of the Vizient Specialty Pharmacy Outcomes and Benchmarking Workgroup and was pretested at 3 pilot sites prior to dissemination. Prescribers of specialty medications within each institution were identified and sent an email invitation to participate in the study that included a link to the anonymous questionnaire. Respondents were asked to rate their agreement with 10 statements regarding quality of services of integrated and external specialty pharmacies on a 5-point scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). An analysis to determine differences in providers’ overall satisfaction with the integrated and external specialty pharmacy practice models, as well as differences in satisfaction scores for each of the 10 statements, was performed using paired-samples t tests. Results The mean (SD) score for overall satisfaction with integrated specialty pharmacies was significantly higher than the score for satisfaction with external specialty pharmacies: 4.72 (0.58) vs 2.97 (1.20); 95% confidence interval, 1.64-1.87; P < 0.001. Provider ratings of the integrated specialty pharmacy model were also higher for all 10 items evaluating the quality of services (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusion The study results confirm that the health-system integrated specialty pharmacy practice model, implemented at institutions across the United States, promotes high rates of provider satisfaction with services and perceived benefits.

ASHP National Survey of Health-System Specialty Pharmacy Practice—2020

“…Restricted specialty networks challenge the health system's ability to deliver an exceptional level of service and coordinated care to all health-system patients, and they negate their top point of pride, which is patient satisfaction and level of service. In addition to patient satisfaction, health-system specialty pharmacies were found to have significantly higher provider satisfaction, as reported by Anguiano et al 22 Another challenge is collecting outcomes metrics demonstrating the value of the health-system specialty pharmacy practice model. Respondents ranked clinical as one of the top 3 areas prioritized in their strategic plan.…”

Financial Impact of Medically Integrated Pharmacy Interventions on Oral Oncolytic Prescriptions

“…Conversely, medically integrated dispensing has demonstrated increased patient and provider satisfaction, clinical benefit to patients, and financial benefit to third-party payers. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Over the past 5 years, NCODA members reported a significantly greater amount of cost avoidance in the MID population compared with the mail-order population. Although these data are limited by the fact that practices could choose what to input or omit in the tracker tool, the financial difference between the two models should not be ignored.…”

Association between health system specialty pharmacy use and health care costs among national sample of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries

“…27,28 Further, an investigation comparing physician satisfaction with HSSP vs external SP identified a meaningful difference in the average score of satisfaction with HSSP use. 29 The improvement in satisfaction was driven by lowering time to initiation of specialty drugs, a particularly important consideration in the care of these medically complex patients.…”

“…However, obtaining access to these medications requires a complicated process that includes prior authorization and often an appeal to a member's insurance company. 29 As part of that process, frequent physician visits may be required.…”