Expert Discusses Changing Pharmacy Policy Landscape

In the shifting landscape of American health care, few professionals stand closer to the fault lines than pharmacists. Once viewed primarily as dispensers of medication, pharmacists today find themselves at the center of policy debates over telehealth, drug pricing, and the scope of clinical practice. Eric Lee, PharmD, BCACP, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Campbell University, unpacked how recent and upcoming changes are reshaping the profession—and what they mean for patients, payers, and independent pharmacy owners.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine, prompting temporary flexibilities that allowed controlled substances to be prescribed via virtual visits. Although many patients have come to rely on this convenient model of care, the legal and regulatory framework around telehealth and controlled substances remains in flux. Pharmacists, Lee emphasized, now shoulder an even greater corresponding responsibility to verify that prescriptions issued through telehealth are valid, appropriate, and safe.

At the same time, state pharmacy practice acts are evolving. Dozens of states have expanded pharmacists’ scope of practice to include test-and-treat services using point-of-care diagnostics and, in many cases, authority to prescribe medications under collaborative practice agreements or statewide standing orders. These changes promise to improve access to care, particularly in underserved communities, but they also demand new levels of clinical judgment and regulatory literacy from pharmacists.

Layered atop these clinical shifts are sweeping financial reforms, including Medicare Part D redesign, provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, and ongoing efforts to rein in pharmacy benefit managers. From proposed transparency rules at the Department of Labor to Medicare price negotiation programs, the stakes are high for pharmacy reimbursement and the sustainability of independent practices.

“It's definitely an exciting time to be a pharmacist and get involved in pharmacy advocacy,” Lee said.