In the May 2018 issue of Dermatology Times (page
10), Dr. Zoey Draelos wrote about how vertical integration of healthcare
may drastically change current dermatology practice. It starts with the
purchase of national pharmacy chains and large physician practices by
insurance companies. These insurance companies then set up medical
clinics in all of their pharmacies, with staffing by nurse
practitioners. Nurse practitioners would diagnose and treat skin disease
utilizing medicine conveniently available in the pharmacy. A lower cost
of care for patients in this setting could financially incentivize them
to use these facilities. It is projected that almost half of all visits
would be skin disease related. The only patients that would be referred
to a dermatologist would be those failing to respond to treatment, and
referrals would only be made to dermatologists employed by the insurance
company. These dermatologists would be limited to prescribing medicines
that financially benefit the insurance company due to prior
pharmacy-benefit manager relationships.
The University of Texas Medical Branch Dermatology Interest Group (UTMB DIG) is a resource for medical students interested in Dermatology as well as for dermatologists and residents.
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Current Editors: Fareen Momin and Jane Onyemachi
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