Why Pharma Companies Must Rethink Patient Engagement to solve for Adherence Gaps and the Rising Demand for Faster Access
Pharmaceutical manufacturers are under pressure, but not just from policymakers or pricing scrutiny. The bigger issue is closer to the patient. Despite years of investment in awareness, access, and support programs, the industry still struggles with a basic reality: too many patients never start therapy, and too many who do fail to stay on it.
At the same time, patient expectations have changed. Increasingly, patients don’t want to navigate fragmented access pathways, wait through fulfillment delays, or manage handoffs between stakeholders. They expect speed, transparency, and convenience. The rise of manufacturer-led “direct” programs is a pointed response to this growing demand.
But faster access alone won’t solve pharma’s adherence problem. Removing friction at the point of prescription may help patients start therapy, but it doesn’t address the underlying drivers of non-adherence that persist long after the first fill. As manufacturers experiment with new distribution and engagement models, the more difficult question remains: can pharma close the gap between initial access and sustained therapy? Or will these investments simply accelerate patients through a still-fractured experience?
Our data shows adherence programs can increase prescription fill rates by roughly one additional script per patient per year. But their value extends beyond numbers.
Take diabetes as an example. Patients with diabetes incur annual medical costs exceeding $19,000, with $12,000 attributed directly to the condition. When you roll up this view to government spend, Medicaid spends 3x more on a diabetic patient than someone without diabetes. When patients consistently take prescribed medications, we can drive down costs and improve long-term outcomes - starting with adherence initiatives powered by pharmaceutical investment.
Investing in pharmacies is pivotal. Ninety percent of Americans living with diabetes live within five miles of a pharmacy, staffed by pharmacists operating at the top of their licenses, ready to deliver complex medication therapy management and personalized care. As healthcare providers face mounting pressures from rising costs, tighter formularies, and affordability challenges, investments beyond research and development have never been more critical.
The Hidden Complexity of Diabetes Care
Diabetes rarely exists in isolation. Depression is twice as common in people with diabetes compared to those without, while the risk of dementia is approximately 60% higher. Around two-thirds of patients with diabetes also have hypertension.
These comorbidities can significantly impact patients' ability to manage their condition effectively. Yet our care models rarely account for these interconnected challenges systematically. Today's system assumes all patients are equally capable of executing their treatment plans once access barriers are overcome. We know the reality is far more complex.
The Power of Targeted Pharmacist Engagement
Through our pharmacist-led program you can customize content, engagement and the overall call to action of an intervention by specific patient targeting. This allows pharmacists to understand their needs and circumstances, not just their diagnosis. Knowing that the pharmacist is likely to see the patient twice as often annually than the doctor, it provides a more proactive, solutions oriented conversation. These visits create unparalleled opportunities for ongoing assessment, and intervention, that cannot be replicated in traditional clinical settings.
Investing time up front to understand the whole patient ensures that interventions are appropriately targeted and effective. The alternative is the current cycle of prior authorization appeals, general non-adherence challenges, and medication changes. Per Outcomes data, of 4.7M GLP-1 patients across 21 months; 16% of those patients switched from one GLP-1 brand to another. Current patient engagement solutions may be focused on solving the wrong problem.
The Pharma Imperative: Protecting the Rx Investment
Most pharmaceutical executives focusing on access and awareness overlook a critical milestone: getting and staying on therapy. Pharmacist-led interventions positively impact therapy performance and market success. The challenge isn't just getting patients prescribed; it's empowering them to start and stay on therapy.
We target interventions at critical moments during the prescription journey, overcoming barriers to adherence, and improving patient outcomes.
In a recent study of an Outcomes pharmacist-led program for diabetes medications, these conversations yielded up to one script per patient over the program period. Our impact extends beyond pharmaceutical ROI: sponsored adherence Targeted Intervention Programs (TIPs) improved diabetes star ratings by 17.8%, while refill intervention TIPs saw members 108% more likely to refill within three days of their anchor date.
Investing in pharmacist programs that identify, and address adherence barriers is strategic and imperative.
Scaling Impact Through Outcomes Pharmacy Network
Effective pharmacist-led diabetes programs represent one of healthcare's most accessible and trusted touchpoints. In 2024, Outcomes network saw $1.1B in cost savings from completed pharmacist interventions. As it pertains to diabetes, studies show that integrating pharmacists more fully into patient care can lead to a 1-2% greater reduction in HbA1c compared to baseline pharmacist involvement.
However, many pharmaceutical manufacturers lack direct access to this critical channel. This is where an established pharmacy network becomes a strategic enabler. Our network includes 65,000+ pharmacies, encompassing independent, regional, and national retail locations. Our network creates the distribution infrastructure necessary to implement standardized screening protocols, deliver consistent pharmacist training, and aggregate meaningful real-world evidence across diverse patient populations.
Win with Outcomes
Medications work when patients can take them as intended. Technologies help when patients can effectively use them. But none of these matter if we don’t first understand the unique individual.
Pharmacist-led programs that explore the barriers that each patient is facing is a practical solution to one of healthcare’s most persistent challenges.
Start your pharmacy investment today, fill out this form to connect with a sales rep to discuss how Outcomes can help you keep your patients more adherent.
