Supporting pharmacy programs is about more than processing claims. It’s about getting involved.

Pharmacy is a hot topic in today’s news – as it should be, given the health risks of misuse, abuse and rising costs. The headlines typically focus on the impact of opioid prescription drug abuse and how rising costs drive too many people to choose between taking their medications and meeting essential living expenses like food and housing. For Medicaid programs, it seems like a problem without a solution.

I disagree. For years, Conduent’s Government Healthcare team has been committed to reducing program costs and, more importantly, improving member outcomes for state Medicaid pharmacy programs. Because we live in the communities we serve, we’re personally invested in addressing these issues.

That’s why many of our pharmacy team members serve in leadership roles within the industry, and why I’m proud that we sponsor industry groups that guide the management of government healthcare program. For some examples, I want to share how some team members recently played a key role in the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) and the National Council for Prescription Drug Pharmacists (NCPDP).

At the recent AMCP Annual Meeting in Boston, four of our team members participated with industry experts and future leaders in discussions around trending topics. These included specialty pharmacy and drug management, value-based contracting, improving member adherence and outcomes, and hemophilia management. Being part of AMCP provides an unparalleled opportunity to interact and collaborate with clinicians from Medicaid programs, pharmacy groups and other industry peers. It’s a learning environment in which pharmacy professionals share ideas on what initiatives are working with populations around the country. When we learn about the most current clinical recommendations, technologies and health improvement approaches, we’re able to stay up to date on the latest trends in pharmacy and give states more tools to tackle emerging issues in the populations they serve.

I was also pleased to have two colleagues participate in AMCP’s Mentorship program, where they were paired with pharmacy students and new members to exchange ideas and thoughts. It’s important that we get involved in educating clinicians that will soon enter our industry. We’re not only able to share our experiences and provide future leaders with a foundation of knowledge; we can also listen to their concerns about pharmacy issues on the horizon – and how they plan to address them. It’s a great way to tap into forward-thinking ideas and help states meet future challenges.

Earlier in May, our team attended the NCPDP Annual Technology & Business Conference. This organization creates pharmacy standards based on consensus of industry leaders within the pharmacy space. One of our own, Andrea Kent, was recently honored as the MVP of the NCPDP Standardization Committee. She was also awarded an Emerging Professional Fellowship from NCPDP’s Board of Trustees. Andrea’s participation ensures we have our finger on the pulse of where the pharmacy industry is going and how the standards that regulate it will evolve. You can read Andrea’s thoughts on the Fellowship and what it means for state programs here.

At the end of the day, we are passionate about helping states anticipate, shape and address the issues impacting their Medicaid pharmacy strategy. I see our pharmacy work as more of a mission than a job: we want to improve the digital interactions between providers, members and programs so states can help their members lead better lives. This video helps explain our focus, and I encourage you to watch.