Financial implications of pharmacist-led Medicare annual wellness visits.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if pharmacist-led Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) are a feasible mechanism to financially support a pharmacist position in physicians' offices.

SETTING

Large, teaching, ambulatory clinic in North Carolina.

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION

The Mountain Area Health Education Family Health Center is a family medicine practice that houses a large medical residency program. The Department of Pharmacotherapy comprises five pharmacists and two pharmacy residents providing direct patient care.

PRACTICE INNOVATION

In April 2012, pharmacists began conducting Medicare AWVs for patients referred by their primary care physicians within the practice.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Visit reimbursement, annual revenue, number of patients who must be seen to cover the cost of a pharmacist's salary.

RESULTS

A small practice requires all eligible Medicare patients to complete an AWV to generate enough revenue to support a new pharmacist position. A medium-sized practice requires a 54% utilization rate, and a large practice requires an 18% utilization rate. Two additional AWVs per half-day of clinic are needed to support an existing pharmacotherapy clinic. A total of 1,070 AWVs per year are required to support a pharmacist's salary, regardless of practice size.

CONCLUSIONS

AWV reimbursement may significantly contribute to supporting the cost of a pharmacist, particularly in medium- to large-sized practices. In larger practices, enough revenue can be generated to support the cost of multiple pharmacists.