Retail pharmacies within community oncology practices: a win-win for patients and practices

Abstract

There has been a rapid paradigm shift in cancer management from intravenous to oral oncolytics in recent years. Oral oncolytics currently represent the fastest growing segment of the oncology drug market. Although they allow patients greater convenience, they are associated with poorer adherence. Furthermore, the shift from IV to oral oncology therapy reduces the revenue community practices obtain from IV therapy. This reduction in revenue coupled with the erosion of reimbursement in the current health care environment is threatening the viability of many community oncology practices. To sustain the independence of community oncology practices, a diversified revenue stream is critical. Oncology pharmacies, including physician dispensing pharmacies and retail pharmacies incorporated within community oncology practices, provide an integrated approach to patient care across the spectrum of treatment modalities. In addition, they may provide a valuable, additional revenue stream that can promote the independence of community oncology practices in this upsurge of oral oncolytic use. More importantly, the incorporation of a practice-owned oncology retail pharmacy into community oncology practices has the potential to significantly improve patient care and outcomes by providing an opportunity to reproduce the patient outcomes and experience associated with the IV infusion suite in the oral therapeutic arena. About 35%-40% of the oncology drugs in development are oral, and an estimated 17% of oncology patients in the United States receiving chemotherapy are prescribed oral oncolytics. Although oral oncolytics allow patients greater convenience, they are associated with poorer adherence. Furthermore, as the shift from intravenous to oral therapies continues to grow, the negative financial impact on community practices will continue to mount. An important consideration for community practices to improve patient care as well as develop an additional revenue stream is the incorporation of practice-owned oncology retail pharmacies into community oncology practices.