Expanding pharmacy’s role in health care access
By Deanna L. Kroetz, PhD, BS Pharm '85, dean and professor at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy
Those of us in the profession know pharmacy is essential to expanding access to care in both urban and rural communities. As workforce shortages and pharmacy deserts persist, policymakers must do more to support pharmacists through expanded scope of practice, workforce development, sustainable payment for services, stronger health information connectivity and care models that position community pharmacies as accessible sites of care.
At The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, we are focused on keeping pharmacy at the center of these conversations by convening leaders, practitioners, educators, students and policymakers to address some of health care’s most pressing challenges and advance health for all. I am encouraged by recent momentum at the state and federal levels and proud of the meaningful contributions of our faculty, staff and students.
Bringing together Ohio’s pharmacy leaders to drive change
Pharmacist-provided care was the focus of last summer’s Ohio Pharmacy Catalyst Summit, hosted by CareSource in Dayton. The summit brought together payors, pharmacists, employers, technology leaders and policy experts to advance patient outcomes through pharmacy. Discussions covered payment and PBM reform, improved Ohio Medicaid billing, expanded scope of practice and innovations like telepharmacy while stressing workforce optimization, expanded technician roles and advocacy to drive statewide change and next steps such as workgroups and legislative engagement.
Several College of Pharmacy faculty members who attended, presented and facilitated at the summit have remained closely involved by drafting the Catalyst White Paper, launching workgroups to advance priority areas, connecting partners across Ohio and nationally and helping plan the next summit. And we’re seeing some movement on some of the priority areas. Ohio House Bill 229, which establishes a licensure pathway for pharmacy benefit managers through the Ohio Department of Insurance and introduces new reporting and accountability requirements, was recently signed by the governor.
Elevating pharmacists in Ohio’s Rural Health Transformation Program
In December, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services awarded Ohio more than $200 million for the first year of the proposed five-year, annually renewable Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), with implementation expected to begin this spring. Developed with the Governor’s Office and state agencies, Ohio’s RHTP prioritizes chronic disease management and expanded access through community-based models that include pharmacies.
Ohio’s RHTP stands out for its intentional integration of pharmacists and pharmacies into its rural health strategy. The plan positions pharmacists as essential rural health providers and calls for expanded scope of practice, workforce development and improved access to health information technology. Early priorities include strengthening interoperability between rural pharmacies and health systems and expanding test-to-treat services through Ohio Senate Bill 230, which would authorize pharmacists to test and treat RSV, COVID-19, influenza and strep under statewide protocols.
I am proud of the leadership of our colleagues at the Ohio Pharmacists Association and College of Pharmacy faculty members Myriam Shaw Ojeda, PharmD; Rebecca Lahrman, PharmD, MS; Jennifer Rodis, PharmD, FAPhA; and E. Michael Murphy, PharmD, MBA, who have helped elevate pharmacy as a central solution within this initiative.
Advocacy at the heart of what we do
Advocacy is foundational to our college culture. Following strong engagement at the Ohio Pharmacists Association Student Legislative Day, many students expressed interest in continuing their advocacy efforts. In response, our student organization, the Advocacy Collaborative, organized a letter writing campaign in support of HB 229 and SB 230. PharmD students from all classes submitted 20 handwritten letters, reflecting a shared commitment to expanding access to care and supporting pharmacists in practicing at the top of their license.
Our faculty remain focused on advancing state and federal policies that promote patient access to pharmacist provided care and support community pharmacies. I encourage you to subscribe to our PolicyRx newsletter, where Dr. Murphy and Dr. Rodis break down complex issues facing patients and providers and highlight policy solutions to consider. This email series helps ensure patients receive timely access to essential medications and expert care while empowering pharmacists to navigate an evolving health care environment.
Building a sustainable future for pharmacy
As policy and market dynamics continue to shift, sustained engagement across pharmacy education, practice, research and advocacy will be essential to ensure pharmacists are fully recognized, appropriately supported and fairly reimbursed for the care they provide. Keeping pharmacy at the table is critical to shaping policies that strengthen the workforce, expand access and improve outcomes for patients across Ohio and beyond.