Dr. Ronda Chakolis

I think that's a great question, Stan. And I want to kind of take a step back because when I have an opportunity, I want to look at like the systems aspect. And so, um, when you talk about drug prices, there's, there's so many variables, um, in terms of we have formularies, different people have different insurance, uh, coverage, uh, benefits.

I think that's a great question, Stan. And I want to kind of take a step back because when I have an opportunity, I want to look at like the systems aspect. And so, um, when you talk about drug prices, there's, there's so many variables, um, in terms of we have formularies, different people have different insurance, uh, coverage, uh, benefits.

And it's really, how do you even try to manage that as a physician when you're like, okay, well, I'm going by clinical guidelines and guidelines says, well, this drug or this medication is the best for my patient. And then it comes back and then you can't afford it. Um, unfortunately, like, I think all of the systems are kind of bogged down a lot of times. Um,

And it's really, how do you even try to manage that as a physician when you're like, okay, well, I'm going by clinical guidelines and guidelines says, well, this drug or this medication is the best for my patient. And then it comes back and then you can't afford it. Um, unfortunately, like, I think all of the systems are kind of bogged down a lot of times. Um,

physicians now when we're holding or we have to send a fax, it might be two or three days before a person can get their medication. So there's all of these variables that make it somewhat difficult sometimes to kind of navigate that communication. You really have to make sure your patients are, you know, have a certain level of health literacy. I would say Minnesota, though, is...

physicians now when we're holding or we have to send a fax, it might be two or three days before a person can get their medication. So there's all of these variables that make it somewhat difficult sometimes to kind of navigate that communication. You really have to make sure your patients are, you know, have a certain level of health literacy. I would say Minnesota, though, is...

very unique and very different in the fact of their CHIP and S-CHIP program or Medicaid and Medicare program, or even what we call, you know, Minnesota Care. Our program is probably, I would say, the most expansive in the nation and the most inclusive in terms of medications that are covered We were also one of the last states to implement co-pays, which are usually either now one or $3.

very unique and very different in the fact of their CHIP and S-CHIP program or Medicaid and Medicare program, or even what we call, you know, Minnesota Care. Our program is probably, I would say, the most expansive in the nation and the most inclusive in terms of medications that are covered We were also one of the last states to implement co-pays, which are usually either now one or $3.

Like there's some variables, but again, what other states are experiencing, we probably don't have. We have medication repositories like a program roundtable RX. We have a lot of different things here. where we're able to help navigate and refer people. But I don't think that is always the case. I would suspect it's very different in Dr. Newsome's state of Arkansas.

Like there's some variables, but again, what other states are experiencing, we probably don't have. We have medication repositories like a program roundtable RX. We have a lot of different things here. where we're able to help navigate and refer people. But I don't think that is always the case. I would suspect it's very different in Dr. Newsome's state of Arkansas.

I think we can just kind of step back and look at, like Dr. Newsome highlighted, is the scope of practice, right, and how that scope of practice is defined by rules and regulations. And so I think what is happening, right, similar to a lot of fields, we don't have the tools and technology that have been able to be incorporated into regulation so that people can can use technology.

I think we can just kind of step back and look at, like Dr. Newsome highlighted, is the scope of practice, right, and how that scope of practice is defined by rules and regulations. And so I think what is happening, right, similar to a lot of fields, we don't have the tools and technology that have been able to be incorporated into regulation so that people can can use technology.

So we're a little bit, I think, behind, but I will say the National Association for the Boards of Pharmacy have been very instrumental in developing guidelines and best practices and things that can be used to guide the practice of pharmacy. The challenge is kind of getting those things into statute and regulation. In particular, when you think about like

So we're a little bit, I think, behind, but I will say the National Association for the Boards of Pharmacy have been very instrumental in developing guidelines and best practices and things that can be used to guide the practice of pharmacy. The challenge is kind of getting those things into statute and regulation. In particular, when you think about like

automatic dispensing or remote services or those type of things. Again, we have to, because we're licensed professionals, we have to operate within our scope of practice, but also follow those rules and regulations that are both federal and state mandated.

automatic dispensing or remote services or those type of things. Again, we have to, because we're licensed professionals, we have to operate within our scope of practice, but also follow those rules and regulations that are both federal and state mandated.

Go ahead, Dr. Newsome.

Go ahead, Dr. Newsome.

And I can say, at least from the Minnesota perspective, so I do know, and I mean, this goes back to me talking about me being a historian, but former president Barack Obama was one of the people who said, okay, these, these records have to, you know, be used in electronic. And so now what we're starting to see is that data is starting to go back for the systems that use Epic here.

And I can say, at least from the Minnesota perspective, so I do know, and I mean, this goes back to me talking about me being a historian, but former president Barack Obama was one of the people who said, okay, these, these records have to, you know, be used in electronic. And so now what we're starting to see is that data is starting to go back for the systems that use Epic here.