CASE STUDY
www.cps.com
Pharmacy Services, “is our commitment to embed local people directly into the health system.”
That includes pharmacists and pharmacy liaisons who assist providers, nurses, and patients
as integrated, accessible members of the care process. “By working in clinics side-by-side with
the providers and meeting with our patients in person,” says Alexis Gately, PharmD — Clinical
Operations Manager at UHS Specialty Pharmacy, “the pharmacy becomes a familiar face — not
someone in the distance or at some other pharmacy miles away.”
With this local approach, Trellis Rx first set out to hire seven pharmacists and 21 pharmacy
liaisons from the surrounding community to support existing UHS clinic staff. Campogni says,
“This onsite model allows our team members to establish strong personal relationships with
clinic staff and patients, some of whom they might already know, which is critical to managing
patient health.”
As direct resources for those patients and providers, the new pharmacy team implemented
Trellis Rx’s comprehensive care model. Liaisons introduce patients to the UHS Specialty
Pharmacy, process prior authorizations on the clinic’s behalf, and secure financial assistance to
ensure affordable access to care. “As specialty pharmacists,” Gately says, “being that resource
for the providers is huge.” Pharmacists can advise providers about which prescription may be
more suitable given a patient’s financial situation or medical history, and they can do so before
the medication even gets dispensed. “Being able to use my pharmacy knowledge and directly
benefiting patient care in this way is just so rewarding.”
Expanded Access to Medications
When they first launched the specialty pharmacy, UHS started with a select list of medications.
“One of the most difficult things for us in the beginning — especially during the pandemic shutdowns
— was payor access,” Waldron says. Given Trellis Rx’s expertise and relationships with health plans
across the country, they immediately helped increase access to insurance markets so more patients
could access UHS services and facilities. The first step, explains Campogni, was to conduct an
in-depth data analysis to identify patients who might already be eligible for specialty pharmacy
services and those payors who could bring more patients into the health system. Trellis Rx then
focused on pursuing the best networks for UHS to reach the most patients. “The best care for a
UHS patient is a UHS provider and a UHS pharmacy,” says Campogni. “That’s why we really focus on
bringing patients here in the community back into the health system.”
THE SUCCESS: INCREASED PATIENT ACCESS TO MEDICATION
AND CARE
When Trellis Rx began managing UHS’ specialty pharmacy program in late 2022, the results were
immediate and significant. It started with Trellis Rx securing two new payor contracts — and in
just five short months, UHS increased its specialty pharmacy prescriptions by 50%. This included
a wide range of newly covered medications for chronic disease management, such as insulin for
patients with diabetes and blood thinners for cardiology patients.
“The increase in prescriptions helped us grow revenue by about 40%,” explains Waldron.
“This growth has also allowed us to provide better care for our patients, including more than
$4.3 million in financial assistance to patients over those five months.” This, he adds, is a big
deal since specialty medications are typically very expensive. Plus, Leigh Briscoe-Dwyer, PharmD,
BCPS, FASHP — System Director of Pharmacy at UHS, points out that many of their patients come
from a lower socioeconomic background. “That financial assistance is important.”
With Trellis Rx as a partner, Briscoe-Dwyer says the assistance goes far beyond the financial. “One
of the things I like best about our current partnership is the embedded pharmacists and liaisons
“
“
The increase in
prescriptions helped us
grow revenue by about
40%. This growth has
allowed us to provide
more than $4.3 million
in financial assistance
to patients.”
The more patients we
can bring on board, the
more services UHS can
offer to the community
for better overall access
to care and treatment.”
William Waldron, RPh, MHA
Director of Outpatient Services
~ United Health Services (UHS)
Fredrick Campogni, PharmD,
BCMAS, 340B ACE, AAHIVP,
CSP, DPLA
Vice President of Onsite Operations
~ Trellis Rx, a division of CPS
General Manager
~ UHS Specialty Pharmacy Services