Walgreens: HIV-specialized pharmacies improve adherence, save money

ATLANTA - Patients using HIV-specialized pharmacies were more likely to use regimens on guideline with HHS recommendations than those not using HIV-specialized pharmacies (81.6% as compared to 76.9%), according to a Walgreens study presented this week before the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care 2016 conference here.



"For pharmacy patients, and particularly for specialized pharmacy patients, pharmacists have the ability to provide guidance on regimen formulation by working with the patient and prescribing physician," noted Ron Hazen, senior analyst, Walgreens Boots Alliance.



That associated benefit carried over to cost as well. For single-tablet regimens, savings averaged $109 per patient per month and $231 PPPM when comparing guideline and non-guideline regimens. On an annualized basis, those savings totaled almost $2,800 when comparing guideline and non-guideline regimens.



"Although these savings may not seem dramatic, it's important to remember that for certain federal programs - i.e. 340B and ADAP - there is a limited amount of federal money and a $1,000 to $3,000 per patient per year cost [savings] from a population perspective could translate into large cost savings and more patients covered under these programs," Hazen said.