Primary Care Section
The Primary Care Practice section of the Center for Advancing Pharmacy Practice and Research Excellence will serve pharmacists in Idaho and Alaska who are involved in clinic-based pharmacy practices. This section, primarily focusing on primary care embedded pharmacists, aims to foster collaboration and innovation in patient care through monthly meetings, a shared resource library, and strategic partnerships. By actively pursuing funding opportunities and working closely with other sections of the Center, the Primary Care Practice section is dedicated to advancing the role of pharmacists in clinic based settings to improve patient outcomes and modernize the healthcare delivery system.
Leadership
Section Lead
Jordin Millward, PharmD, BCPS, CDCES
Clinical Assistant Professor
Jordin Millward is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences at Idaho State University College of Pharmacy. She also serves as the Primary Care Section Lead for the Director of the Center for Advancing Pharmacy Practice and Research Excellence. She is board-certified in pharmacotherapy and is also a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Public Health degree to further explore the role of the pharmacist within public health initiatives.
Dr. Millward graduated from Idaho State University College of Pharmacy in 2019 and completed a PGY1/PGY2 combined Pharmacotherapy Residency at Idaho State University in 2021, gaining diverse experience in inpatient, outpatient, managed care, and community-based settings. She also has extensive experience in the retail pharmacy sector. She currently works in several primary care clinics with the Patient Quality Alliance in Pocatello, where she takes students on rotation. Her clinical practice focuses on chronic disease management, particularly diabetes care and education.
Her research interests include pharmacist-led chronic disease management, practice advancement, population health, and technology-based healthcare solutions. Dr. Millward coordinates the Endocrine Module in the PharmD program, facilitates case studies, and mentors students in advanced pharmacy practice experiences.
Get Involved
-Link to join mailing list (we have been using a google form - if there ais a better option please let me know) and Practice Section Collaborative Meetings
-Monthly Collaborative Session: Third Wednesday of each month at 9 AM MT Zoom link - (if we can embed a google calendar invite this would be great)
-Contact Us – Not sure if we should just use my or the lead’s email or if we can have a CAPPRE email/some type of contact form
Resources
-None yet but we plan to have quite a few shared resources (open to how this is shared and we want some access and content control - would this be a linked google drive or what is the best method?)
News
From Oct 2024 Newsletter:
It has been an exciting few months for the Idaho and Alaska pharmacy communities as we have started to see the fruits of many months and years of dedicated advocacy from individual pharmacists, the state pharmacy associations and the College of Pharmacy and CAPPRE. Almost simultaneously, we have seen the final barriers to clinic based pharmacist participation in Medicaid in both Idaho and Alaska removed, and we have received news that Blue Cross of Idaho is ready to begin enrolling clinic based pharmacists.
On the Idaho front, under the leadership of Alex Adams, PharmD, MPH, the new Director of IDHW, much needed updates to the Gainwell MMIS were implemented to enable pharmacists to fully register as rendering providers with Medicaid. This change permits pharmacists to be affiliated with billing entities and practices other than just registered pharmacies and to be listed on a medical claim as the rendering provider. Prior to this change, only pharmacists providing services directly in a pharmacy could have their services billed to Medicaid. A full list of codes that are presently eligible for performance and submission on a medical claim when rendered by a pharmacist is available in the Medicaid Physician and Non-Physician Practitioner Handbook available here. Pharmacists who are enrolled as ORP only providers to have a pharmacy bill for their services must update their registration with Medicaid and affiliate with their practice site's Medicaid ID prior to submitting medical claims for rendered services, however registration can be backdated to 1/1/2024. Shortly after this change, Blue Cross of Idaho announced that they have begun credentialing pharmacists in clinic based practices and will be reimbursing for pharmacist services. Pharmacists who have previously applied to participate in BCI and had been denied credentialing or participation should reapply at this time. Coverage of pharmacist services in community pharmacies under BCI is not included at this time, however additional work is underway to extend coverage to community pharmacy based services.
In Alaska, while pharmacists in clinic as well as community pharmacy settings had already been able to enroll as rendering providers with AK Medicaid, the pharmacist provider fee schedule establishing reimbursement rates and covered service codes had lapsed following the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency declarations. In the absence of a published fee schedule, pharmacist services were not covered. As of September 10th and effective September 15th, 2024 through July 31st, 2025, an up to date pharmacist fee schedule was posted and covers a broad range of pharmacist services. The current fee schedule can be accessed here.