HEALTH-SYSTEM RX | DEPARTMENTS
to deliver high-quality care while facing shrinking margins—and this reduction in spending may signal a shift toward more value-based care models. For health-sys- tem pharmacy teams, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity: inno- vating clinical services while managing increasingly complex cost dynamics. Pharmacy leaders are now tasked with maintaining patient outcomes while identifying smarter, more sustainable ways to manage budgets.
HOSPITAL DRUG SPENDING DECLINES
In a surprising turn, hospital phar- macy drug spending decreased by 1.1% in 2023, even as national prescription drug expenditures jumped by 13.5%. This data, published by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), highlights how health systems are bucking national trends through aggressive cost containment, drug utili- zation controls, and increased outpatient transitions. Hospitals are under pressure
2025 ASHP FORECAST
need for collaboration with finance and IT departments to manage drug utiliza- tion and emerging therapies effectively. Pharmacy technicians in hospital set- tings may soon see more integrated roles that combine clinical support with data and tech fluency. The takeaway? The health-system pharmacy model is evolving—and teams that embrace inno- vation will be better equipped for the challenges ahead.
MANAGED CARE PHARMACY SET TO RESHAPE HOSPITAL PRACTICES The AMCP Foundation, in collabo- ration with Pfizer, has published a for- ward-looking report on major trends influencing managed care pharmacy— and many are directly relevant to health-system pharmacy teams. From the rapid evolution of personalized medicine to shifting value-based reimbursement models, hospital pharmacies are being pulled into more complex financial and The 2025 ASHP Pharmacy Forecast highlights a seismic shift in hospital phar- macy practice, driven by three key forces: the rise of artificial intelligence, the influx of ultra-high-cost specialty drugs, and worsening workforce shortages. The report urges pharmacy leaders to lean into predictive analytics, automation, and cross-training to alleviate staffing burdens. It also emphasizes the growing to reimagine staffing models, bolster automation, and standardize regulatory procedures to stay efficient and compli - ant. The report also notes that pharmacy technicians may need to develop more specialized competencies as the scope of their roles expands. Health systems that respond proactively—especially in train- ing, resource planning, and workflow design—are expected to maintain a com- petitive edge in clinical performance and cost control.
FOUR PRESSING ISSUES FACING HOSPITAL PHARMACY IN 2025
CompleteRx recently released a timely update on the top operational chal- lenges facing hospital pharmacies in 2025. These include a critical shortage of qualified personnel, ongoing supply chain instability, increasingly complex compliance demands, and the pressure to adopt and integrate new technologies. Pharmacy departments are being forced
clinical ecosystems. The report empha- sizes the need for strong data infrastruc- ture, tech-enabled workflows, and inter- departmental coordination to support these trends. Pharmacy technicians may find themselves increasingly involved in formulary support, patient access naviga- tion, and data analytics. As care delivery continues to migrate toward precision and accountability, hospital pharmacy departments will play an even more stra- tegic role in optimizing both outcomes and costs.
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