Americans value pharmacists but don’t leverage their expertise, survey reveals

A survey by specialty pharmacy Lumicera Health Services, a subsidiary of Navitus Health Solutions, has uncovered a disconnect between Americans’ concerns about prescription costs and their willingness to seek help about it from pharmacists.

The research, conducted in February of 2,000 adults in the US, showed that while most Americans trust their pharmacists, they rarely engage them in conversations about medication affordability.

According to the survey, 89% feel comfortable asking their pharmacist questions, 81% are comfortable sharing personal health information, and 75% value having a pharmacist who knows them personally. However, despite the high level of trust, 55% of respondents rarely ask questions about their medications, while 21% don’t ask for any information.

Most notably, 74% of Americans have never discussed financial challenges with their pharmacist or doctor, even though 75% reported being surprised by prescription costs at some point, the survey stated.

“I think the problem is twofold. First, many Americans aren’t aware there are many ways to secure better pricing, and second, they aren’t aware that pharmacists are an excellent resource for navigating price concerns,” Ben Heiser, general manager of specialty pharmacy at Lumicera Health Systems, told Access Insider.

“Unfortunately, the majority of Americans today don’t have a relationship with a pharmacist, for a variety of reasons, and that means they don’t look to them as a resource.”

Cost concerns

The survey highlighted concerns about medication affordability, with many Americans experiencing “sticker shock” when filling prescriptions, with 33% of respondents having cited medication cost affordability challenges, and 30% have skipped picking up a prescription due to cost, distance, or long wait times. Additionally, 81% don’t fully understand the cost of their medication.

Research showed that while 68% of respondents know that prices can vary between pharmacies, most don’t take steps to find better options, with 56% not researching drug prices or cost-saving alternatives and 54% never compare prices across major retailers like Walmart or Walgreens.

When asked if how much of the problem stems from insurance coverage issues versus base medication pricing, Heiser told us, “While insurance plays the largest role in determining the price of a medication, many patients are unaware of the role pharmacies, primary care doctors, discount cards, and employers can play in the cost of a medication.

“Additionally, specialty medications are very expensive, so as a result some plans may choose to shift some of that expense to the patient taking the medication to help control rising drug costs for the plan and keep premiums low for all members. That is where a pharmacist can play a vital role in helping patients understand their options, whether that be copay assistance, or even recommending a similarly effective therapy that may come at a lower cost to the patient,” he added.

Closing the divide

The survey findings suggest that improving dialogue between patients and pharmacists could notably enhance medication affordability and adherence.

According to Heiser, Lumicera pharmacists are trained to address both clinical and non-clinical factors, including housing situations, stress levels, and support networks. In addition, they have access to resources designed to support various aspects of patient health and well-being.

Furthermore, he noted that Lumicera Health Services has implemented a patient-centered approach that eliminates traditional call duration metrics, allowing their clinical staff to spend more time with patients.

“If patients don’t see pharmacists and clinical staff as a resource and someone they can discuss concerns with, they are unlikely to discuss cost concerns,” Heiser said.

“I think as an industry we need to re-establish the pharmacist-patient relationship and then pharmacists will be able to play a more active role in mitigating cost concerns for patients.”

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