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New Report from GoodRx Shows Positive Impact of Giving Pharmacists the Power to Prescribe
Analysis shows greater pharmacist prescribing authority dramatically improves patient access SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GoodRx (NASDAQ: GDRX), a
About this update from Goodrx Holdings, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\nAnalysis shows greater pharmacist prescribing authority dramatically improves patient access\n\n SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nGoodRx (NASDAQ: GDRX), a leading consumer-focused digital healthcare platform, today released a new report that indicates that policies that expand pharmacists’ prescribing and dispensing authority greatly improve access to critical medications. The average person sees their pharmacists nearly 12 times more frequently than their HCPs, creating an enormous opportunity to bridge current gaps in the healthcare system.\n\nGoodRx Research examined the annual fill rate index from 2014-2022 for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), “the HIV prevention pill,” comparing states that have enacted policies that allow pharmacists to prescribe and dispense the medication to those that have not. In states that empower pharmacists, PrEP fills were significantly higher.\n\nAccording to previous research, only 25% of those eligible for PrEP actually receive it, despite its strong efficacy. This lack of access, coupled with the ability to see the effect of state policies over multiple years, makes PrEP a valuable case study indicating that pharmacist prescribing power can improve access to prescription medications. A few states currently allow pharmacists to prescribe other medications, including birth control, smoking cessation medications, and medications for conditions such as asthma and diabetes.\n\n“When access improves, as we saw with this study, so does adherence,” said Tori Marsh, MPH, Director of Research at GoodRx. “It’s exciting to think about what would be possible if more states enacted these policies. It’s good for patients, and it’s also good for providers who are suffering high rates of burnout and will benefit from their patients having additional ways to receive medications.”\n\nKey takeaways include:\n\n\nExpanding pharmacist prescriber authority for HIV PrEP medications significantly increased PrEP use.\n\n\nPrEP fills grew 24% after 1 year and 110% after 2 years in states that passed pharmacist prescriber policies for PrEP, including Colorado, California, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Virginia.\n\n\nOver 37 million people live in an under-resourced area. Expanding pharmacist prescriber authority in these areas could boost access to healthcare.\n\n\nGoodRx Research also mapped all U.S. counties tha...