Should Business Training Be a Significant Element of Pharmacy Training?

Abstract

Because pharmacists cannot be reimbursed for their clinical services and are not listed as providers under the US Social Security Act, they often have difficulty finding ways to financially support their services. Specifi-cally, because pharmacists are not listed as providers, there is not usually sufficient financial support through reimbursement to cover pharmacist labor costs. Further, pharmacists must show that they save more in labor costs through cost avoidance to be accessible to patients in particular health care settings. Business training may provide a foundation for pharmacists to create financially viable models of practice and allow for better communication with administrative decision-makers, thus increasing the accessibility of their clinical services.