Independent pharmacist gives extra effort to assist patients in Pickaway County during COVID-19 pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic has taken over the country, healthcare professionals are taking extra steps to ensure patients are receiving excellent care.  While many businesses are closed during the stay-at-home order, community pharmacists are continuing to serve on the front lines of the pandemic to assist patients in receiving the medications they need.

Stephen Mabe is the pharmacy manager of Ashville Apothecary and Circleville Apothecary, two independent pharmacies in Pickaway County. Mabe's pharmacies have implemented many changes since the COVID-19 pandemic began. They are offering free delivery of prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and other essential items within their county. Another unique service Mabe and his team are providing is the emergency compounding of FDA-approved hand sanitizer, which was recently allowed by the state Board of Pharmacy in response to widespread shortages in Ohio.

During the pandemic, Mabe states that one barrier they have faced is with patients who normally fill prescriptions at another pharmacy and would like to have their prescriptions delivered. Several patients have wanted to transfer their prescriptions to Ashville Apothecary and Circleville Apothecary due to the convenient delivery service and the exceptional level of patient-focused care they are offering; however, many have been unable to do so due to restrictions imposed by insurers and pharmacy benefit managers.

Mabe also reports that they have had a few patients discharged from nursing homes in their area because of the pandemic. Because some of these patients have very little family support and are homebound, Mabe and his team have made extra efforts to ensure that their medication needs are met. Likewise, they have gone above and beyond by delivering other essential items to their households.

Mabe believes that pharmacist "Provider Status" could help his team and other pharmacists greatly. He states that payment reform would better allow pharmacists to expand services and use their knowledge expertise to the fullest level.

Across Ohio, thousands of pharmacists and faculty like Stephen Mabe are practicing in many different types of practice settings to answer the call and rise to the challenge of combating the COVID-19 pandemic and maximizing patient outcomes. As one of the most underutilized and overlooked health professionals, pharmacists have the training and expertise to make a significant impact on patient lives, but because of antiquated and decades-old federal laws that have disincentivized their use, many are left on the sidelines at times when they are needed most.

At a federal level, pharmacists lack what’s typically referred to as “provider status,” which inhibits their ability to provide needed care to our nation’s seniors and also limits their access to personal protective equipment (PPE) amid the pandemic. At the state level, an Ohio “provider status” law went into effect in April 2019 to help better utilize pharmacists on the health care team, but state officials have not yet taken the steps necessary to activate the law’s provisions.

The Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) is working to ensure that pharmacists can have the same recognition and protections as other health care providers, so that they can be better utilized during ordinary – and extraordinary – circumstances. Pharmacists are an important tool in the healthcare toolbox, and it’s imperative that they are deployed to meet our greatest healthcare challenges. For more information about COVID-19 and the role of pharmacists, visit OPA’s dedicated coronavirus resources page.