PrintCollaborating with Our Pharmacists
Working with Our Pharmacists
The foundation of our pharmacy relationships is built on our strategic alliance with the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). Through this collaborative relationship, our network pharmacies have the ability to play a stronger role in the total healthcare of our members.
We leverage the knowledge and experience of our pharmacists to counsel patients in order to help them achieve better health outcomes.
Our community pharmacists embody the ideals of our Healthy Collaboration. These pharmacists help our members understand their drug regimens so they can take the correct medicines and dosages. The pharmacists also counsel with their patients to help prevent dangerous drug interactions, and they work to save members money by helping them switch to lower-cost, equally-effective medications, when appropriate.
Educating Members in Partnership with Our Community Pharmacists
Sutter Smith, a Universal American Career agent, believes in the power of working inside community pharmacies to educate people with Medicare about their Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan options.
Smith’s team of licensed and certified agents in Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee spend time in community pharmacies, providing people with Medicare a personal contact who can answer questions about their Medicare coverage options.
"Our customers trust the pharmacist," he said. "And the pharmacist appreciates having someone they can trust to educate their patients. Many people with Medicare need someone to explain what plan works for them. We're able to do that. There really is a Healthy Collaboration between us and the pharmacy’s Medicare patients."
Smith’s team works with the customers at Brandon Discount Drugs in Jackson, Miss where Ryan Harper, Pharm.D. R.Ph., works. Ryan had a long-time customer who needed a plan that covered a specific medication for osteoarthritis, which caused him great pain and affected his gait. Smith’s agent worked with the customer to educate him on the Community CCRx plan that covered his arthritis medicine. Today, that customer still thanks the agent every time he sees her.
"Our patients really appreciate that someone takes the time to help them find the right plans and answer all of their questions about Medicare Prescription Drug Plans," Harper said. "We're invested in the community and in each individual patient’s health. The Universal American agents we have in the store are, too."