This article was originally published in a sponsored newsletter.
As doctors, we can put together amazing treatment plans, but if patients do not have easy access to the therapeutics or over-the-counter products we prescribe, those brilliant plans fall flat. What can we do to rectify the lack of access problem?
First, we can stock nutraceuticals, lid scrubs, hypochlorous acid, artificial tears, ointments, nighttime lid closure strips, heat masks and other products that are part of our treatment algorithms in-office. You will also need to have an employee who manages this inventory to prevent over/under stocking, as well as to monitor expiration dates and pricing changes. The convenience of this option is, in my opinion, unquestionably the most important aspect of taking on additional inventory; however, do not overlook the potential revenue gain of providing patients with immediate access to products that you have prescribed. To assist with this type of initiative, many companies—such as OcuSoft and Dry Eye Rescue—have established means to carry and display your inventory and educate patients on the products you have available.
If you don’t want the burden of managing additional products in your practice, both OcuSoft and Dry Eye Rescue also have direct-to-patient programs that will send products directly to patients and follow up with them for refills in a timely and convenient manner. Whether you carry the products yourself or work with a direct-to-patient program, you can keep your patients from being turned loose on the internet, where they could end up with purchases that you didn’t recommend.
We also have means to help patients get access to their prescriptions in a quick and affordable way: We can use specialty pharmacies and, in some cases, compounding pharmacies for the therapeutic agents they need.
Many pharmaceutical companies launching new medications are already using specialty pharmacies like Blink Rx, CVS Specialty Pharmacy, Carepoint Pharmacy and Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy. These pharmacies are aware of the available discounts and coupons offered by manufacturers and are often engaged in assisting with prior authorizations. They won’t just substitute what you’ve prescribed with a generic, and they will work in the patient’s best interest to get them affordable access to their medications quickly.
Using a compounding pharmacy is another way to improve patients’ access to prescription medications that may not be covered by their insurance. For example, Primera in Texas provides medications such as azithromycin spray with lid cleansers and diclofenac sodium for lids, and other compounding pharmacies can provide access to compounded testosterone ointment or ivermectin ointment.
Ensuring access to our prescribed treatments is just as important as the plans we devise for our patients. We must be thorough in our prescribing approaches to be sure that our patients get what they need.
