By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in
Health Law
On May 10, 2016, Walgreens announced it will expand its mental
health services, including access to behavioral
health treatment via
telemedicine, expand customer options for treatment, screenings and awareness. To improve overall mental
health care for patients, Walgreens will offer access to 1,000 therapists and psychiatrists via Breakthrough, an MDLive
telemedicine company. Walgreens recently began a relationship with MDLive, a
telemedicine company, to provide customers with around-the-clock access to
physicians, as well as Mental
Health America.
Mental Health Conditions.According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about one in five Americans suffers mental
health conditions, which is greater than medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease. But patient adherence to prescriptions is worse for mental
health conditions than physical illnesses, so Walgreens is hoping that its
pharmacists and
nurse practitioners can have an impact.
“In mental
health, in particular, adherence (to prescriptions) is a major, major challenge,” Walgreens chief medical officer Dr. Harry Leider said in an interview. Less than 50% of Americans who are prescribed medications to treat mental
health conditions take them as directed, if at all, Walgreens said. “
Pharmacies have always been oriented around supporting patients who are on medications for mental
health conditions, but we are providing even more training around medication issues,” Leider said.
The Push for Expansion of Mental Health Care.Walgreens is one of several large drugstores, like CVS and Wal-Mart, to push further beyond a
pharmacy chain’s traditional role of dispensing and managing customer prescription needs. The
pharmacy giant believes it can make a difference given six million Americans shop at the drugstore chain’s stores each day and some two million people come to digital properties like the company’s web site and mobile.
In further the expansion, Walgreens is working with Mental
Health America, a nonprofit that will help the drugstore giant connect its customers to free community-based screenings for mental
health conditions that include depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders. Walgreens will also work with other experts in the field to improve training and
education of its more than 27,000
pharmacists and more than 1,100
nurse practitioners and physician assistants employed at its drugstores. To read more on Mental
Health America,
click here.
Mental
Health America and Walgreens has set a goal to screen three million people by the end of 2017 to improve care and patient awareness.
Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in Representing Pharmacies and Pharmacists.The
Health Law Firm represents
pharmacists and
pharmacies in
DEA,
DOH and
FDA investigations,
qui tam and
whistleblower cases, regulatory matters, licensing issues,
litigation,
administrative hearings, inspections and audits. The firm’s attorneys include those who are board certified by The Florida Bar in
Health Law as well as licensed
health professionals who are also attorneys.
To contact The
Health Law Firm please call (407) 331-6620 and visit our website at
www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.
Sources:Japsen, Bruce. “Walgreens To Expand Mental
Health Services.” Forbes. (May 10, 2016). Web.
Johnson, Steven. “Walgreens aims to promote greater mental
health awareness.” Modern Healthcare. (May 10, 2016). Web.
About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in
Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The
Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area.
www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The
Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.
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