In a presentation to the Eastern Medicaid Pharmacy Administrators Association, Stephanie N. Tran, PharmD, Clinical Consultant Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacy Services, reviewed recent trends in compounding and highlighted how commercial and Medicaid insurers approached the management of pharmaceutical compounds. The main takeaways from her presentation are:
- The role of pharmaceutical compounding may grow to serve unmet community needs, especially during a global pandemic.
- Recent price increases, fraudulent billing, and other inappropriate use, along with the frequency and complexity of compounds, have necessitated increased oversight at the federal, state, and payer level.
- Medicaid payers need to maintain vigilance regarding increases in cost and the potential for medically unnecessary and unsupported use.