In the healthcare industry, there are many safeguards put in place to protect patients. When it comes to medication and pharmacies, it is no different. PBM pharmacy audits are conducted both for the sake of the pharmacy benefit manager (PMB) and for you, the pharmacy owner. A PBM audit can be a stressful experience for a pharmacy, especially a small, independent one, but many pharmacies cannot operate at desired capacity without also working with a PBM. If you have an upcoming PBM pharmacy audit, proper preparation is key to success.
Documentation is Extremely Important
For many pharmacies, but especially independent pharmacies, documentation is often an area that needs attention. When your PBM auditor comes to your pharmacy, they may request to see certain documentation that could be from months or even years ago. This documentation could be anything to do with things such as supply changes, such as going from a 30-day supply to a 60-day supply, or early refills. Having your documentation completed, thorough, and organized will save you much stress during the audit.
Consistency Is Expected
Part of the job of a PBM auditor is to make sure that each patient receives the same standard of care when they use your pharmacy. This is accomplished by making sure that all employees are following the same rules and policies while they perform their job. When your PBM auditor is at your pharmacy, they will be looking for any errors made by your staff, such as checking the amount of medication dispensed or ensuring all of the proper forms and documentation are filled out. It is a good idea to have an official standard operating procedure (SOP) written out and distributed to all of your employees so that they understand what is expected of them every time they fill a prescription.
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