Rare Disease Pharmacy Insights

A recent study by Patel et al. (2024) examined the time to treatment initiation for patients receiving specialty medications through integrated health system specialty pharmacies (HSSPs) versus external specialty pharmacies. The study found that patients using HSSPs experienced significantly shorter delays in therapy initiation. The authors attribute this advantage to improved coordination between prescribers, pharmacists, and patients, streamlining prior authorizations and eliminating communication gaps.

These findings underscore the growing role of integrated pharmacy models in specialty care. As external specialty pharmacies navigate increasing regulatory and logistical challenges, adopting best practices from HSSPs—such as enhanced provider collaboration and proactive patient engagement—could help reduce delays and improve adherence. Specialty pharmacies looking to optimize patient access may benefit from re-evaluating their workflows and exploring strategies to enhance care coordination.