Future of Pharmacy

Utah's AI-powered prescription refill pilot is fueling debate over how artificial intelligence can improve medication access and workflow efficiency while preserving the clinical oversight needed to ensure patient safety.

The new program gives eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries access to Wegovy, Zepbound, and Foundayo for weight management at a flat $50 co-pay, but early claim-routing errors show pharmacists have a critical role in getting patients across the bridge.

Evaluating, implementing, and optimizing automation technologies that improve safety, efficiency, and patient care outcomes are practical strategies for health-system pharmacy leaders.

Marijuana’s move to Schedule III has reignited a long-standing contradiction.

From AI-driven dispensing to grassroots advocacy wins, here are the key insights Pharmacy Times gathered at McKesson ideaShare 2026 in Denver.

Specialty dispensing and infusion services offer real opportunity—but the path requires careful planning, sequencing, and the right resources.

Three finalist pharmacies shared the mindsets, tools, and community-rooted strategies driving their operational success and patient-centered care.

Two pharmacy owners share real-world strategies for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to boost efficiency, expand clinical capacity, and elevate patient care.

From artificial intelligence (AI)-driven dispensing to specialty service diversification, Jaime Montuoro, PharmD, previews the education lineup at McKesson ideaShare 2026.

McKesson ideaShare 2026 brings independent pharmacy's premier gathering to Denver, June 18-21, with Pharmacy Times on-site for exclusive interviews and coverage.

Chai Discovery’s collaboration with Eli Lilly highlights the growing role of AI in biologics discovery, leveraging generative AI models to accelerate design and optimization of novel therapeutic proteins and antibodies.

Medicare’s MTF underpays pharmacy dispensing fees, forcing losses on Part D claims and threatening rural access unless CMS sets realistic, inflation-indexed rate floors.

As agentic AI enters clinical workflows, the real risk isn't processing power—it's whether AI systems can consistently access authoritative, real-time medication intelligence.

Pharmacists must balance the lifesaving automation of advanced technology with the harsh reality of a high-cost, high-risk transition.

Health systems are being pushed to fundamentally rethink how to support medication safety, regulatory compliance, and patient care with fewer resources.

Pharmacy technicians are increasingly central to obesity care, supporting medication access, workflow efficiency, and patient engagement in ambulatory settings.

Education is shifting from memorization of drug information to mastery of digital health, interprofessional collaboration, and demonstrated clinical competency.

New CMS prior authorization timelines highlight major infrastructure gaps while underscoring the link between access, affordability, and medication adherence.

Social media has allowed us to connect with generations of pharmacists and provide advice to students on a larger scale.

In a session at the Asembia AXS26 Summit, Harry Travis discusses how AI is transforming every step of the prescription process faster than the profession is prepared for.

At AXS2026, pharmacy and health care leaders explored how AI is transforming specialty care and why standards, trust, and oversight must keep pace with innovation.

Combining AI-driven insights with human-first outreach can overcome the emotional and behavioral barriers driving specialty medication nonadherence.

Walgreens pilots hybrid pharmacists—4 days in-store, 1 day remote—seeking less burnout and more steady staffing.