Walgreens and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will colloborate to develop medication therapy management (MTM) program to improve outcomes for HIV patients.
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The multi-year program will study the impact of MTM intervention in the community pharmacy setting, with Walgreens expected to fund approximately $1m in in-kind services.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, ”This collaboration will offer insight into how pharmacists and other providers can help patients living with HIV/AIDS stay on their medication and in care, and ultimately improve health outcomes."
As part of the pilot MTM program, Walgreens pharmacists at select HIV Centers of Excellence (COE) will work with 1,000 patients and the centres will be staffed with specially-trained pharmacists to offer guidance and support with their medication therapy.
The COE facilities also include monthly insurance benefits and refill reminders which help manage side effects.
Walgreens pharmacy, health and wellness president Kermit Crawford said Walgreens community pharmacists are a valued part of the health care team for thousands of HIV patients coast to coast, and the new program will help elevate the importance and effectiveness of the meaningful patient-pharmacist relationship.
"By developing these relationships and closely studying how they impact outcomes for HIV patients, this collaboration will put community pharmacy in a great position to be even more effective and relevant when it comes to retention in care for those with chronic conditions," Crawford added.
The program is expected to launch on 1January 2013 with patient participation being voluntary.
Walgreens has been supporting HIV/AIDS patients since the beginning of the epidemic more than 30 years ago through its ability to offer accessible health and wellness guidance to patients nationwide.