In a nation that spends more than 17% of its gross domestic product on health care, where health care costs are rising faster than costs in any other industry, one of our roles as public health practitioners is to identify and promote efficient care-delivery models ( 1 ). Well-Ahead Louisiana, a chronic disease prevention and health care access initiative of the Louisiana Department of Health, helps health care facilities identify and implement strategies to optimize efficient care. Well-Ahead Louisiana has partnered with pharmacists to increase the use of collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) agreements, a proven method for improving patient outcomes by maximizing the pharmacist’s ability to practice at the top of their license in a team-based setting ( 2 ). True collaboration between clinicians and pharmacists, leveraging the unique expertise of both providers, has demonstrated significant improvements in patient outcomes ( 3 , 4 ). However, we encountered legal restrictions that prohibited small, rural pharmacies in Louisiana from establishing such agreements. Rural regions of Louisiana are more likely than nonrural regions to be designated as primary care health provider shortage areas (HPSAs) and could benefit most from the improved provider coordination that CDTM provides. We believe altering these regulations will make CDTMs a viable tool for pharmacists in rural Louisiana.
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