Medically Integrated PHARMACY
Medically Integrated Dispensing Pharmacy
NCODA defines a Medically Integrated Dispensing Pharmacy (MIP) as a dispensing pharmacy within an oncology center of excellence that promotes a patient-centered, multidisciplinary team approach. The MIP is an outcome-based collaborative and comprehensive model that involves oncology healthcare professionals and other stakeholders who focus on the continuity of coordinated quality care and therapies for cancer patients.
How it Works
At practices with their own pharmacies, patients now have the option to pick up prescriptions directly from the clinic. This method, known as MIP, provides better patient outcomes and is substantially more cost-effective when done correctly. With MIP, the provider continues to manage the prescription directly with their pharmacist. The patient simply picks up their prescription from the integrated pharmacy once it’s filled.
Why it Works
This model creates a win-win solution for all stakeholders involved in oral chemotherapy, including patients, practices, employers, payers, pharmaceutical companies, advocacy groups and professional organizations, PBMs, GPOs, foundations, legislators, and state boards of pharmacy.
Abandonment
- Medication prescription abandonment is defined as a patient making the decision not to fill or to fill and never pick up a prescription.
- MIPs lower the rate of oral oncolytic prescription abandonment.
Time to Fill
- Time to fill is the time between when a prescription is written to when the patient takes their first dose
- Use of a MIP reduces the time to fill oral oncolytic prescriptions.
Adherence
- Adherence refers to the extent to which a patient takes a medication as prescribed, focusing on frequency, time ingested, and dose.
- MIPs improve patient adherence to oral oncolytics.
- Adherence leads to better patient outcomes.
- Interventions from members of the MIP multidisciplinary team improve adherence to oral oncolytics.
Patient Satisfaction
- MIP leads to better patient satisfaction.
- Patient satisfaction can lead to better patient adherence.
- Patient satisfaction surveys are critical tools in identifying and addressing opportunities for improvement.
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Patient Education
- A multidisciplinary approach to patient education is a critical step in the MIP dispensing process.
- Patient education enhances understanding of and adherence to oral oncolytics.
- Patient education improves safety and toxicity of oral oncolytics.
Financial
- Financial burden and high out-of-pocket expenses for prescriptions are functional barriers to care.
- MIPs seamlessly coordinate financial assistance for patients.
- MIPs lead to cost savings.
Why focus on Medically Integrated Dispensing Pharmacy Services?
Advancements in cancer care within the context of precision medicine highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach to maximize treatment benefits. NCODA has set a high standard in cancer care by promoting the Medically Integrated Pharmacy (MIP) model, which contrasts with traditional pharmacies. The MIP model involves pharmacists in care teams, utilizes electronic medical records for better decisions, ensures direct communication with providers, and enhances care continuity, quality, and cost-efficiency, fostering proactive patient interventions.
HSSPs and IODs have reported an ability to manage the real patient journey and not just the prescription journey
The care model for health systems SPs is predicated upon a high level of visibility into and control over the patient journey, but is inherently limited to a local population.
The leading health system SPs have developed a successful care model that leverages seamless access to providers, patients, and data.

References: Surescripts 2019 National Progress Report, Link; JMCP May 20I6;22(5):5I6-23, Link; Clinicoecon Outcomes Res. 2017;9:251-260, Link; JMCP Jan/Feb 2013;19(I-a):S24-S40, Link; AJHP March 2014;71(6):463-69, Link; J Clin Lipidol, Jan 2019; 13(2):2254-264, Link; AJHP June 2016; 73(11); 811-819, Link; TrellisRx August 2019, Link; AJHP July 2020; 77(14); 1118-1127, Link
Resources Built For The Medically Integrated Oncology Community
NCODA is committed to the development of resources to help the Medically-Integrated Pharmacy and oncology teams deliver top-tier care. These resources include Positive Quality Interventions (PQIs), Oral Chemotherapy Education (OCE) and Intravenous Chemotherapy Education (IVE) sheets, in addition to tools listed on our Member Resources page.
GOING BEYOND THE FIRST FILL
NCODA established “Beyond the First Fill,” a benchmark initiative for positive patient care outcomes at the practice level based on NCODA Quality Standards. Beyond the First Fill encourages member practices to adopt NCODA Quality Standards and collaborate with payers and employer groups to authorize the practice’s own medically-integrated pharmacy to dispense oral chemotherapy to their patients.
FROM GRASSROOTS TO GLOBAL RECOGNITION
NCODA is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization founded to strengthen oncology organizations with medically integrated services. During our first decade, we grew from a collective of five practices in New York to become a globally-recognized organization. Our role is to be patient-centered community builders who connect medical teams with the vital information and resources they need.
RESOURCES
Cost Avoidance Waste Tracker
PQI in Action
OCE Sheets
IVE Sheets
Treatment Support Kits
PQI Podcast
Members
Member Resources
OPTA
Committees
Member Login
Events
Webinars
Spring Forum
Oncology Institute
PSO Annual Meeting
Fall Summit
315-655-4640
P.O. Box 468
Cazenovia, NY 13035