In 1986, Publix became more than a neighborhood grocery store when the first retail pharmacy opened at #301, Altamonte Springs, Florida. Now, 30 years later and with more than 1,000 pharmacies across six states, customers continue to benefit from Publix’s reputation for quality and service.
The pharmacy department has more than 7,000 associates who administer vaccines, manage medication therapies and engage in community outreach. Our pharmacies are linked together, so customers can access their prescriptions at any Publix store — another convenience of being a Publix shopper!
Jack Tacher, Pharmacy Manager, Store #413
“Our pharmacists develop relationships with their patients, so they can provide appropriate guidance on taking prescriptions. This takes dedication, compassion and attention to detail, ”said Director of Pharmacy Administration David Kirkus.
Being a premier pharmacy that meets the needs of customers requires additional support. For example, our associates at our central pharmacy assist stores remotely by processing insurance approvals when permitted by state law.
Another way our pharmacy serves customers is through medication therapy management. Pharmacists work one-on-one with patients to provide an in-depth review of their medications and work directly with the doctors, if needed, to make sure patients are on the most appropriate drug therapies.
Publix operates five outpatient pharmacies at Florida hospitals — two locations at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Lakeland Regional Health, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami and the newest hospital pharmacy at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando. These pharmacies offer a variety of specialized services, such as bedside delivery of medications directly to patients in their hospital rooms.
The pharmacy is recognized nationally and has received the JD Power & Associates award for best supermarket pharmacy eight of the last 10 years.
Because of Publix’s dedication to improving patient health, the pharmacy offers several services to increase access to medications.
- Free medication program — allows customers to receive up to a 90-day supply of certain commonly prescribed medications for diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as up to a 14-day supply of commonly prescribed antibiotics.
- Sync Your Refills program — customers can fill all their medications on the same day each month, eliminating the need to make multiple trips to the pharmacy.
- Communication assistance — we can provide interpreters for customers with limited English proficiency and devices for those with hearing, vision and speech impairments.
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Customers get additional support from specialty pharmacy
The Publix Specialty Pharmacy grew out of a need to assist the retail pharmacy customers and associates with specialty medications. These are defined as high-cost/high-touch medications that average more than $600 per month. Specialty drugs may treat or cure certain diseases. For instance, they may mitigate symptoms of multiple sclerosis, prevent a patient’s body from rejecting a new organ, deliver chemotherapy to patients with cancer or help to suppress the HIV virus.
The complex nature of specialty therapies requires close supervision and monitoring of patients, including special handling and administrative processes to ensure patients receive maximum benefit.
“A key difference between the specialty pharmacy and retail pharmacy is our ability to provide additional patient support services through outbound calls to patients,” said Senior Manager of Specialty Pharmacy Katie Scanlon Petti.
The specialty pharmacy opened in 2013 and expanded in 2015. The department now has more than 30 associates who handle accreditation and quality management, data analysis, billing and account management, as well as patient care coordinators, clinical pharmacists, dispensing pharmacists and technicians, and a nurse.
Last year, the specialty pharmacy achieved accreditation through Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) and Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and secured $2 million in foundation support to help patients lower their out-of-pocket expenses.
“We work with each patient on the journey to better health,” said Katie. “This includes helping with the insurance process and providing counseling to new patients. Our team follows up with patients regularly to monitor outcomes and potential adverse events, as well as to facilitate the refill process.”
The specialty pharmacy is committed to providing
- the same great service and care expected of Publix
- dedicated staff working to identify available financial and other support resources for patients
- collaboration with providers and third-party payers to streamline prior authorizations and benefit determinations
- clinical resources to help improve patient understanding, adherence and outcomes
- continued expansion of the pharmacy network and access to limited distribution specialty medications, and
- compassionate care with an emphasis on patient privacy and respect.
Visit the Publix Speciality Pharmacy to learn more.
