Independent pharmacies and physician practices both lose money on clinical work they perform daily but never bill for properly. Medicare programs now pay for these services through formal partnerships that generate thousands monthly while improving patient outcomes, but most owners don’t know how to start.
Independent pharmacies watch profits shrink as prescription reimbursements drop and pharmacy benefit manager fees climb higher each year. Physicians struggle with growing patient loads while trying to care for people managing multiple chronic conditions between visits.
Both groups spend hours on clinical work that never gets paid, yet Medicare-approved programs now let pharmacies and doctors partner to earn a predictable monthly income for services they already provide. Here's how these partnerships work and why they're gaining ground.
Pharmacists give medication reviews, answer questions about drug interactions, help patients manage diabetes or high blood pressure, and coordinate care between doctors without getting paid. This happens every day in independent pharmacies, but the business model offers no way to earn money for anything beyond filling prescriptions.
Doctors deal with a similar issue where patients need regular check-ins and ongoing support to stay healthy, but insurance only pays for office visits. Growing paperwork and staffing shortages make it tough for practices to deliver this care without hurting their finances or exhausting their teams.
Medicare created chronic care management to help patients dealing with two or more ongoing health problems that will last at least a year. The program pays for structured support through medication management, care planning, and regular contact with healthcare teams throughout each month.
Remote patient monitoring uses devices like blood pressure cuffs, scales, and glucose meters that send health information automatically to providers for tracking. Both programs pay healthcare providers for time spent helping patients outside regular appointments, which matches exactly how pharmacists already work with customers.
Medicare rules let doctors bill for these services while hiring staff or partnering with other organizations to handle the actual patient care work. This setup creates a clear path for pharmacies to team up with local doctors by managing daily patient contact while physicians oversee care and handle billing.
Patients already know and trust their pharmacy staff from regular prescription pickups, so these relationships feel comfortable instead of forcing people to work with strangers. Pharmacists understand medications deeply and know each patient's health history, which helps them spot problems early and provide education that improves how well people follow their treatment plans.
Pharmacies running these partnerships typically bring in $40 to $100 per patient monthly, depending on services provided and time spent with each person. A pharmacy with 200 enrolled patients could see $8,000 to $20,000 coming in each month from this work alone.
Starting small with 25 patients helps pharmacy teams learn efficient processes before growing to larger groups that create bigger income streams.
Activities that pharmacy staff already do with patients become billable once those people enroll in chronic care management or remote patient monitoring programs. Reviewing medications, discussing lab results, connecting specialists with primary doctors, and teaching patients about their conditions all count toward monthly billing requirements.
Phone calls about medication concerns, care plan updates, checking transmitted blood pressure or glucose numbers, and writing patient notes also qualify as paid time. The shift happens when owners realize they already spend this time with patients but get nothing for it without a proper tracking system.
These programs need software built for tracking patient time, handling remote health data, recording care activities correctly, and managing billing without drowning teams in paperwork. Good platforms track time automatically, apply the right billing codes, and create needed records while fitting naturally into how staff already work with patients.
Most pharmacies start with current employees instead of hiring new people since care management blends smoothly into daily routines with smart planning. Success comes from making these services a natural part of patient care rather than treating them as separate work requiring dedicated staff.
Start by learning program requirements before talking to any physician, so you can explain clearly what your pharmacy offers and delivers. Pick software that handles tracking, documentation, and billing needs for your pharmacy size, then approach doctors who already send prescriptions your way.
Share a proposal covering patient enrollment steps, service delivery methods, communication plans, and revenue splits between your pharmacy and their practice. Write an agreement spelling out each party's responsibilities, billing procedures, patient information sharing rules, and how either side can change or end the arrangement.
Many owners think they lack time for new services when staff already handle more than enough during each shift. These programs pay for activities already happening daily, so extra work mainly involves documentation and planned patient outreach rather than brand-new services requiring lots of additional time.
Finding doctor partners feels easier when you remember that physicians face similar money pressures and many want reliable partners for these services. Modern platforms handle most complicated parts automatically through simple screens designed for how pharmacy professionals actually work with patients during normal business hours.
These programs match pharmacy strengths in medication management and chronic disease care instead of pushing teams toward unfamiliar work outside their training. Monthly recurring income creates stability that shrinking prescription payments no longer provide, helping pharmacies handle ongoing pharmacy benefit manager changes and fee shifts with more confidence.
Pharmacists keep gaining expanded provider status in many states, and offering these services now positions pharmacies well for future opportunities as rules change. Patient health improves when pharmacists give ongoing chronic care management, which builds your community reputation and strengthens bonds with patients and doctors.
Running these programs successfully takes specialized software, clear billing knowledge, proven enrollment methods, and steady support as programs grow over time.
Experienced partners help independent pharmacies avoid the learning mistakes that slow owners down when figuring things out on their own. Strong support means comprehensive technology plus hands-on help with approaching doctors, drafting agreements, training staff, and handling billing
