From recent changes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in star measures to adjusted funding for those in the healthcare industry, it’s hard to ignore just how much change we’re undergoing. Among some of the more noticeable trends within the industry is the fact that nationwide retailers like CVS and Walgreens are closing locations and reducing staff, with Walgreens planning to close over 1,000 locations in the next few years, while many independent and local pharmacies are also facing layoffs and financial strain. In turn, many pharmacists are left without jobs and in fear.
But, despite any changes, what’s still critical are pharmacists. And, in order for pharmacists to provide excellent patient care, those teams need innovative pharmacy solutions that offer the scale and flexibility needed to adapt.
What's happening in the pharmacy industry?
When taking a look through a wide lens, there’s a lot to digest about the current state of the pharmacy industry in 2025. For one, the introduction of new artificial intelligence innovations opens up new opportunities for advances in science and the expansion of pharmaceutical services. In fact, it’s estimated that by 2030, the global healthcare AI market will reach about $188 billion.
These tools by no means are expected to replace the valuable work of pharmacists. Rather, new AI technologies and healthcare SaaS options increase efficiency and empower healthcare providers to improve their offerings, such as eliminating redundancies and optimizing treatment plans according to individual patient needs.
But for some, these exciting steps forward and the promise of accelerated results through new technologies may be overshadowed by a thread of uncertainty among pharmacists. For instance, AI is still in its early stages, and some may hesitate to adopt it due to uncertainty about its safety in patient care.
Additionally, health systems are overburdened and overwhelmed, which underscores the projected shortage of 10 million healthcare workers globally by 2030. Further, regulatory implications and wavering federal funds are pressuring the pharmaceutical industry. From the looming threat of lost federal funding to health plans removing medication therapy management (MTM) services due to changes in CMS Star measures, many pharmacists are unsure about what further industry changes may be coming.
The pharmacy industry as a whole is seeing a lot of change. And like any change, that may be accompanied by a sense of uncertainty. However, these adjustments do not undermine the critical importance that pharmacists continue to provide for health plans and patients.
Why medication therapy management services remain critical
Despite the shifting landscape of pharmacy services, MTM remains a cornerstone of effective patient care. With increasing medication complexity, growing rates of polypharmacy, and persistent medication adherence challenges, the need for personalized, pharmacist-led interventions has never been greater.
Yet, recent industry changes, such as the transition of MTM to a display measure rather than a required Star Rating component, have led some health plans to deprioritize comprehensive medication reviews (CMRs) in favor of more transactional approaches. However, reducing MTM to a check-the-box exercise overlooks its proven impact on patient outcomes, cost savings, and healthcare quality.
So, even with some health plans placing less value on MTM services, they are still essential when it comes to driving outcomes and providing high quality care. Those goals are further attainable and will continue to be achieved with effective pharmacy services. More specifically, remote pharmacists are essential for:
- Managing complex medication regimens: As the number of patients on multiple medications rises, the risk of drug interactions, non-adherence, and adverse events increases. Pharmacists don’t just review medication lists, they identify gaps in therapy, optimize treatment plans, and ensure patients receive the most effective medications for their conditions. Their expertise is crucial in preventing medication-related complications that can lead to hospitalizations and higher healthcare costs.
- Building patient trust and long-term adherence: Pharmacists do more than dispense medications, they also build relationships that foster trust and long-term adherence. As some organizations shift to call center-based medication reviews, the risk of losing that personalized, clinical expertise grows. Patients need more than a checklist-style review; they need pharmacists who understand their full health picture and can guide them through medication management with care and precision.
- Driving health plan performance and cost savings: Even though MTM has shifted to a display measure, its role in improving medication adherence and reducing healthcare costs remains more essential than ever. Pharmacist-led interventions help health plans improve medication adherence rates, lower hospital readmissions, and enhance overall Star Ratings performance. By ensuring members are on the right medications and following their treatment plans, pharmacists deliver measurable value to both patients and payers.
Ultimately, the expertise of pharmacists is irreplaceable when it comes to delivering quality patient care. And, as the role of pharmacists only grows in importance, the pharmacy solutions available need to empower pharmacists to replace them.
How innovative pharmacy solutions support health plans and pharmacists
As the pharmacy landscape evolves, health plans face mounting challenges, from managing medication adherence to optimizing member engagement and controlling costs. At the same time, pharmacists are navigating an industry in flux, with shifting reimbursement models and increased pressure to deliver high-quality care with fewer resources.
To bridge these gaps, innovative pharmacy solutions are emerging as a critical tool for both health plans and pharmacists, ensuring that patient care remains a priority despite industry-wide changes. For instance, technology-driven pharmacy platforms provide the scalability, insights, and flexibility that health plans need to enhance clinical outcomes. By leveraging advanced analytics, real-time performance tracking, and targeted patient outreach, health plans can proactively address gaps in medication adherence.
Specifically, new innovations in pharmacy solutions that are currently gaining traction include:
- AI-driven patient matching and data insights: Technology that leverages advanced analytics and AI can connect patterns with the most suitable pharmacists based on factors such as clinical expertise, language preference, and geographic considerations. Additionally, AI-powered tools help predict adherence risks, identify gaps in therapy, and recommend proactive interventions, ensuring that patients receive timely and relevant support. These data-driven insights also provide health plans with real-time reporting and analytics, allowing them to track outcomes and optimize MTM programs.
- Online medication management platforms: Healthcare requires efficiency to be effective, and online medication management platforms like BeWell by Aspen RxHealth streamline pharmacist-patient interactions, making comprehensive medication reviews more accessible to pharmacists. And, by integrating real-time clinical insights and automated documentation, these platforms enable pharmacists to offer high-touch care while ensuring that medication therapy remains aligned with patients’ health goals and treatment plans.
- Scalable support for health plans: Whether health plans require a full-service MTM program or a hybrid approach that integrates in-house pharmacy teams with a network of available pharmacists and resources, emerging pharmacy platforms provide adaptable solutions. Platforms like Alliance by Aspen RxHealth provide flexibility, ensuring that health plans can expand services, enhance patient engagement, and drive better clinical outcomes without the operational burdens of staffing and training an in-house pharmacist team.
- Automation for efficiency and compliance: By automating documentation and reporting processes, pharmacists can focus more on patient care and less on administrative tasks. These tools also provide real-time regulatory updates to ensure compliance with CMS, HIPAA, and other industry standards, reducing the risk of errors and non-compliance.
These solutions go beyond static medication reviews, they equip pharmacists with data-driven insights that allow for more meaningful, personalized interventions. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, pharmacists can tailor their consultations based on real-time patient needs, ultimately improving health outcomes and member satisfaction.
Pharmacy solutions for enhanced patient care
Among the pharmacy solutions available, the ones that are essential for pharmacists are the ones that provide the most value for patients. And, despite ever-changing trends in the pharmacy industry, what will always remain essential is providing high-quality, tailored care for each patient.
And, to drive engagement, improve medication adherence, and ultimately patient outcomes, pharmacists need a solution that will empower them in their roles and equip them with the tools they need to deliver meaningful, clinically driven care.
That said, as the pharmacy landscape evolves, Aspen RxHealth remains committed to providing pharmacists with the technology and resources they need to succeed. Whether working independently or within a health plan network, pharmacists using Aspen RxHealth’s platform can continue to provide the expert, personalized care that patients rely on, ensuring better health outcomes while driving efficiency for health plans.
To learn more about Aspen RxHealth’s powerful web-based and mobile solutions for remote pharmacists, reach out to the team today to book a demo!