IHS Clinical Pharmacy
Clinical pharmacy services within the Indian Health Service (IHS) have a high-impact role in improving health outcomes, increasing access to care, and reducing costs, demonstrating their value as essential providers within team-based care despite policy and reimbursement barriers.
The high-impact of clinical pharmacy services is demonstrated through:
- Significant clinical outcomes improvement (e.g., hypertension control in reported patients, improved A1c, higher tobacco cessation rates)
- Expanded access to care by alleviating provider shortages and reducing primary care burden
- Increased system efficiency through pharmacist-led visits and reduced provider workload
- Revenue generation potential in states with pharmacist provider recognition, in some cases covering full salary costs
For more information, read Economic and Clinical Impact of Pharmacy Service in the Indian Health Service: A White Paper. [PDF - 640 KB]
Pharmacy services are fully integrated into the health care system. Therefore, pharmacists are often called upon to perform other extended functions such as primary patient care and program management.
PEVA (Pharmacy Expanding Vaccine Access)
The PEVA workgroup, alongside pharmacists across IHS, leads efforts to reduce vaccine-preventable diseases by expanding access to vaccinations and promoting public education on immunization.
- Workgroup aims to reduce vaccine-preventable diseases
- Focus on increasing access and demand for immunizations
- Advise, educate, and implement innovative immunization practices in the field of public health
Pharmacist-Managed Disease Outcomes (FY 2023)
IHS pharmacists provide direct patient care through clinical visits. In FY 2023, they achieved 100% of patients at goal blood pressure and a 24.9% tobacco quit rate—both significantly exceeding national benchmarks.
In FY 2023, 22,831 clinical pharmacist visits were provided in IHS according to data submitted by National Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (NCPS) certified pharmacists.
Hypertension
- Goal BP: <140/90
- National outcome: 52.4% at goal
- Pharmacist managed: 100% at goal
Tobacco Cessation
- National outcome: 8.8% quit rate
- Pharmacist managed: 24.9% quit rate at 6 months
Pharmacists Improve Diabetes Outcomes
Pharmacist-managed diabetes care leads to significant improvements, including a 1–2% average A1c reduction, fewer insulin-related complications, and more timely medication adjustments.
- Pharmacist-managed clinics report an average of 1–2% decrease in A1c
- Patients with higher starting A1c levels saw the greatest benefit
- Fewer insulin injections or lower doses, and fewer hypoglycemic episodes
- Improved medication management, deprescribing, and faster treatment adjustments
The National Pharmacy Council Innovations Newsletter:
The National Pharmacy Council Innovations Newsletter carries out an initiative to share innovative pharmacy practices nationally across the Indian Health Service. The newsletter distributes accurate and up to date information written by pharmacy officers to share any new ideas and neat tools developed, pharmacy run clinics, community impact stories, time management ideas, significant officer achievements, personal wellness and others. The newsletter supports the mission of the Indian Health Service and of the Public Health Service by allowing various service units to collaborate innovative practices and ideas to improve the quality of patient care.
The National Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Committee:
The National Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Committee (NCPSC) provides a mechanism to assure that all Clinical Pharmacy Specialists in Federal Pharmacy display a uniform level of competency for pharmacists as primary care providers (PCPs) to allow for privileges including prescriptive authority. Pharmacists working at any public health facility (IHS, ICE, BOP, CG) may apply for certification as a National Clinical Pharmacy Specialist if they meet the qualifications.
National Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Committee Handbook:
Read and download the latest edition of the NCPSC Handbook. [PDF - 555 KB]
