Pharmacist medical provider status in Alaska the last frontier

ABSTRACT Objectives To explore Alaska statutes and regulations related to insurance policy, pharmacist scope of practice, and provider discrimination that establish pharmacists as billable medical providers similar to Washington and Oregon initiatives. Summary Alaska law and healthcare policies incidentally designates pharmacists as billable medical providers when providing healthcare services. However, state and commercial provider enrollment and claims processing systems are not configured to enroll and accept claims from pharmacists. Alaska law does not protect pharmacists from unfair discriminatory practices by payors despite such protections being afforded in federal regulation. Conclusion Additional advocacy and legislation is needed to fully implement pharmacist's as billing medical providers within traditional payor models. Healthcare services provided by pharmacists can help to alleviate unmet patient healthcare needs in community and primary care settings of Alaska. Identified barriers will continue to limit the ability of pharmacists in Alaska to sustainably provide life-saving, scope allowed, and otherwise covered services to those in greatest need.