Seven of the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. are due to treatment-intensive chronic diseases. With an aging population, 6 of 10 adults now have at least one chronic disease, and four in 10 have two or more, reports the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention. Combined with a growing shortage of physicians and resources
consumed by COVID-19, a growing public health concern is becoming even worse. Chronic diseases — such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, chronic kidney disease, HIV and others — increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. And as noted, the impact of chronic disease is compounded by the growing shortage of physicians. The
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) estimates by 2034, there will be a shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 primary and specialty physicians. Fortunately, policymakers and the medical community are recognizing the potential of pharmacists to help address these often-intertwined issues. State-implemented solutions to addressing public health concerns include statewide protocols, standing orders, and laws expanding the scope of practice of pharmacists. Collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) are another method to utilize pharmacists in managing chronic diseases and to improve access, health outcomes, and
quality of care provided by healthcare teams. CPAs are formal relationships established between prescribers and pharmacists in which certain functions are delegated to the pharmacist such as initiating, modifying or discontinuing specified medication therapy. CPAs allow pharmacists to perform healthcare functions that are aligned with their education and training, but otherwise outside of their scope of practice. Currently,
legislation or regulations for pharmacist practice CPAs exist in all U.S. states except Delaware. Types of collaborative practice agreementsPatient-specific
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