A-S Medication Solutions pushes point-of-care dispensing as pharmacy access gaps widen

A-S Medication Solutions is pitching provider-based medication dispensing as retail pharmacy closures and pharmacy deserts make access harder for patients. The company says the model can let patients leave the clinic with their medicine the same day and reduce handoffs that can delay treatment.

Why it matters: - Retail pharmacy closures are leaving more patients without convenient access to medications. - Nearly half of U.S. counties now lack a drugstore within 10 miles, according to research from The Ohio State University. - A-S Medication Solutions says point-of-care dispensing can help patients start treatment the same day and support adherence.

What happened: - A-S Medication Solutions is directing providers to dispense medication during the patient visit instead of sending prescriptions to a retail pharmacy. - The company says patients can leave the clinic with medication in hand, with copays based on insurance coverage and plan benefits. - The company also offers home delivery refills. - Matthew Hoff, CEO of A-S Medication Solutions, said the company sees medication fulfillment as a simplification problem, not a disruption problem.

The details: - The three largest U.S. pharmacy chains have closed nearly 3,000 locations in four years. - ASM says its internal workflow studies found point-of-care dispensing reduced prescription hand-off time compared with typical retail pharmacy wait times. - The company describes its system as a closed-system distribution model. - A-S Medication Solutions holds Drug Distributor Accreditation from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. - The accreditation verifies a secure medical supply chain. - ASM says the retail prescription path can involve about 10 steps, from pharmacy benefit manager coverage review to a separate patient trip and self-managed refills. - The company says the point-of-care model cuts that path to about half as many steps. - For clinics, ASM says the shorter process can reduce handoffs where a prescription can stall. - The company says the model can also give clinics tighter control over inventory and formulary. - ASM says point-of-care dispensing gives clinicians a chance to counsel patients at the moment medication is dispensed. - A-S Medication Solutions is a privately owned company founded in 1968. - ASM serves more than 3,600 provider dispensing sites and several on-site closed-system pharmacies. - The company is registered with the FDA and DEA. - ASM maintains drug distribution licensure across all 50 states. - The company’s services include point-of-care dispensing, home delivery and mail order. - A-S Medication Solutions is headquartered in Libertyville, Illinois.

Between the lines: - The pitch is aimed at clinics and providers, not just patients, by framing dispensing as a workflow upgrade. - The model also shifts part of the medication access burden away from retail pharmacies and toward care sites. - Hoff said improving convenience may also improve patient experience.

What's next: - A-S Medication Solutions appears to be positioning point-of-care dispensing as a practical response to pharmacy deserts and pharmacy wait times. - The company is directing interested providers to its website for more information at Learn more.

The bottom line: - As pharmacy access gets harder, ASM is betting that handing patients their medication before they leave the clinic can make treatment faster and simpler.