UBCNews - Business - Are Pharmacists Becoming Healthcare Providers? The Shift To Clinical Services

Episode Date: March 3, 2026

The Pharmacy Business Is Changing Fast. For most of their history, pharmacies have operated on a pretty simple model: fill prescriptions, counsel patients, repeat. It worked well for decades. But that model is under growing pressure, and a lot of independent pharmacy owners are starting to look seriously at what else they can offer. The good news is that the answer has been in front of them the whole time. Independent pharmacies already have something most healthcare providers spend years trying to build: regular, trusted access to patients with chronic conditions. The challenge, as noted by chronic care management consultants in this space, is that most pharmacies haven't yet built the systems or frameworks to turn that access into additional, billable services. Why Margins Are Under Pressure. The financial squeeze on independent pharmacies is real. The 2025 NCPA Digest reported that 2024 saw a 10-year low in gross profits for the sector, driven by rising costs, low reimbursements on high-volume GLP-1 drugs, and ongoing pressure from pharmacy benefit managers. Filling more prescriptions isn't solving the problem, and many pharmacy owners are waking up to the fact that diversification is no longer optional. Clinical Services Are the Logical Next Step. Pharmacists are already among the most accessible healthcare professionals in the country. Most patients with chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension visit their pharmacy far more often than they see a doctor. That frequency puts pharmacists in a strong position to support ongoing care, not just dispense medications. Immunizations, point-of-care testing, and medication therapy management are all services that pharmacies are increasingly offering. CCM and RPM: A Growing Opportunity. Two programs gaining significant traction are Chronic Care Management (CCM) and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM). CCM is a Medicare-reimbursable program covering care coordination between office visits, while RPM uses connected devices to track patient health data remotely. Pharmacies can participate in both by partnering with physicians, building a collaborative care model that benefits patients and generates consistent monthly revenue for the pharmacy. Getting the Implementation Right. One of the most common sticking points for pharmacies is the implementation itself. Billing codes, compliance requirements, and workflow changes can make even experienced owners hesitant to take the first step. The good news is that most pharmacies don't need to hire additional staff to get started. Programs built around existing capacity, supported by the right software, can launch without major disruption to daily operations. What a Broader Role Looks Like in Practice. Pharmacies that have expanded into clinical services typically describe a shift in how both staff and patients relate to the practice. Rather than a quick pick-up stop, the pharmacy becomes a more central part of a patient's care team. Regular check-ins, health monitoring, and medication reviews deepen those relationships and often improve adherence, which benefits patient outcomes across the board. The Case for Moving Forward. Independent pharmacies have always adapted when the landscape shifted, and this moment is no different. The combination of trusted patient relationships, clinical expertise, and Medicare reimbursement pathways makes expanding into pharmacy-based clinical care one of the more practical options for independent owners. The infrastructure is more accessible than ever, and the patients who could benefit are already walking through the door. Check out the link in the description to learn more! CCM RPM Help City: Herriman Address: 12953 Penywain Lane Website: https://ccmrpmhelp.com/ Phone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

The pharmacy business is changing fast. For most of their history, pharmacies have operated on a pretty simple model, fill prescriptions, counsel patients, repeat. It worked well for decades, but that model is under growing pressure, and a lot of independent pharmacy owners are starting to look seriously at what else they can offer. The good news is that the answer has been in front of them the whole time. Independent pharmacies already have something most health care providers spend years. years trying to build, regular trusted access to patients with chronic conditions. The challenge, as noted by chronic care management consultants in this space, is that most pharmacies haven't yet built the systems or frameworks to turn that access into additional billable services. Why margins are under pressure, the financial squeeze on independent pharmacies is real. The 2225 NCPA Digest reported that 2024 saw a 10-year low in gross profits for the sector, driven by rising costs, low reimbursements on high-volume GLP-1 drugs, and ongoing pressure from pharmacy benefit managers. Filling more prescriptions isn't solving the problem, and many pharmacy

owners are waking up to the fact that diversification is no longer optional, clinical services are the logical next step. Pharmacists are already among the most accessible health care professionals in the country. Most patients with chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension visit their pharmacy far more often than they see a doctor. That frequency puts pharmacists in a strong position to support ongoing care, not just dispense medications. Immunizations, point-of-care testing, and medication therapy management are all services that pharmacies are increasingly often. C-CM and RPM, a growing opportunity. Two programs gaining significant traction are chronic care management, CCM, and remote patient monitoring, RPM. CCM is a Medicare-re-re-reimbursable

program covering care coordination between office visits, while RPM uses connected devices to track patient health data remotely. Pharmacies can participate in both by partnering with physicians, building a collaborative care model that benefits patients and generates consistent monthly revenue for the pharmacy. Getting the implementation right. One of the most common sticking points for pharmacies is the implementation itself. Billing codes, compliance requirements, and workflow changes can make even experienced owners hesitant to take the first step. The good news is that most pharmacies don't need to hire additional staff to get started. Programs built around existing capacity supported by the right software can launch without

major disruption to daily operations. What a broader role looks like in practice? Pharmacies that have expanded into clinical services typically describe a shift in how both staff and patients relate to the practice. Rather than a quick pickup stop, the pharmacy becomes a more central part of a patient's care team. Regular check-ins, health monitoring, and medication reviews deepen those relationships and often improve adherence, which benefits patient outcomes across the board. The case for moving forward. Independent pharmacies have always adapted when the landscape shifted, and this moment is no different. The combination of trusted patient relationships, clinical expertise, and Medicare reimbursement pathways makes expanding into pharmacy-based

clinical care one of the more practical options for independent owners. The infrastructure is more accessible than ever, and the patients who could benefit are already walking through the door. Check out the link in the description to learn more.