Physician-Pharmacy Integration in Cancer Care: Pillars of Medically Integrated Pharmacy

Published in The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC), this article is part of an NCODA-led initiative supported by the NCODA Executive Council and highlights how stronger integration between physicians and pharmacists can improve care for patients receiving oral anticancer therapies. As oral oncology continues to expand, patients often face barriers such as insurance complexity, high out-of-pocket costs, and side effects that can delay treatment or interrupt therapy. The authors emphasize that reducing fragmentation across the medication journey is essential to improving outcomes.

The article focuses on the Medically Integrated Pharmacy (MIP) model, in which pharmacy services are embedded within an oncology practice and connected through shared workflows and electronic health record (EHR) access. In this model, pharmacists are positioned as part of the care team, allowing for proactive support that goes beyond dispensing and includes education, follow-up, and real-time problem-solving.

While the MIP framework includes seven pillars, the authors highlight three that most directly impact patient outcomes:

• Reducing Prescription Abandonment: Oral oncology prescriptions may go unfilled due to cost-sharing, insurance delays, or lack of follow-up. MIPs can help reduce abandonment by supporting benefits investigations, prior authorizations, financial assistance coordination, and proactive patient outreach early in the process.
• Improving Medication Adherence: Adherence is strengthened through consistent follow-up, education, and side effect management. Pharmacist engagement helps patients stay on therapy as prescribed and reduces interruptions that could impact treatment success.
• Enhancing Access and Affordibility: Access challenges remain a major barrier in oral oncology. Integrated pharmacy teams help streamline affordability solutions, resolve coverage issues, and reduce delays so patients can start and continue therapy with fewer disruptions.

The article reinforces that integrated pharmacy teams can improve continuity of care, reduce barriers to treatment, and support patient-centered, value-based cancer care, benefiting patients, providers, and managed care stakeholders alike.

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