Redefining Care Delivery: How Infusion and Specialty Pharmacies Are Converging

The decentralization of health care in the United States is being accelerated by technological advancements, workforce shortages, and evolving financial incentives. Virtual care has become a standard practice, and emergency policies introduced during the pandemic transitioned care to more cost-effective settings, such as patient homes and ambulatory care centers. As a result, outpatient revenue is now significantly outpacing inpatient revenue.

For example, in 2007, the US had approximately 547,000 ambulatory health care facilities, and by 2022, the number has grown to over 678,000.¹ As more care moves outside the traditional 4 walls of the hospital, infusion and specialty pharmacies are stepping up to meet patients where they are—playing an even more important role in patient care and delivering complex therapies.

The New Standard Following COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally reshaped the health care delivery landscape. The rapid conversion of outpatient hospital clinics for acute care, and the expansion of home-based care highlighted the system’s adaptability and underscored the critical role of collaboration. As payers, providers, and pharmacies became more aligned, the role of specialty and infusion pharmacies expanded significantly, becoming critical in maintaining continuity of care for patients requiring complex therapies—regardless of care setting.

These adaptations have become the new standard due to high patient satisfaction, and the pendulum has not swung back to pre-pandemic norms. Payers realized that many specialty medications were not only easily administered in the home or outpatient settings but were also much more cost-effective than inpatient infusion.²

The Rising Demand for High-Touch and Specialty Therapies

Many specialty medications prescribed for chronic or complex conditions require a level of clinical support that extends well beyond the capabilities of traditional retail pharmacies. As a patient’s condition progresses, the complexity of medication administration and the potential for adverse effects (AEs) often increased. This growing complexity necessitates patient education, ongoing monitoring, and personalized guidance to ensure adherence, optimize therapeutic outcomes, and maintain patient safety.

Pharmacy aisle. Image Credit: © crazyass - stock.adobe.com

We’re starting to see specialty drugs take up more of the market and it’s only expected to increase. In 2024, specialty drugs accounted for 75% of the more than 7000 drugs in the pipeline waiting to come to market.³ We’re witnessing the development of therapies for conditions that have never before been treated with medication—many of which are designed for patient self-administration.

Take advancements in the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disease in which the heart muscle becomes thickened, or hypertrophied, which makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. Previously, treatment for this condition only consisted of medications to reduce the heart rate, which doesn’t address the root cause. However, in the past decade, 2 specialty medications have been developed to directly impact the protein responsible for the force of heart contractions, making it pump more efficiently.

In addition to a robust and rapidly evolving drug pipeline, the aging population is poised to significantly drive growth in the specialty and infusion therapy market. Older adults often require complex medication management across multiple care settings—from OTC treatments to in-home infusion therapies. Currently, approximately 129 million Americans are living with at least 1 major chronic condition, with many managing multiple comorbidities.⁴ These patients will increasingly depend on a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to care that integrates providers, pharmacists, nurses, case managers, and caregivers to ensure continuity, safety, and optimal outcomes.

For specialty and infusion pharmacies, effective patient management is essential to ensure timely medication initiation, minimize AEs, and support adherence. A technology-driven, systematic approach helps pharmacy staff meet patient and provider needs, all while ensuring an efficient process so the pharmacy can scale and grow as needed.

The Future of Retail, Specialty, and Infusion

Pharmacies will be better positioned for long-term success if their care models:

1. Can address the holistic needs of patients
2. Provide access to and management of medications that cross the traditional lines of care

For example, patients expect a seamless connection between their pharmacy experience and their interactions with their health care provider. They want continuity, efficiency, and the convenience of having 1 pharmacy, not 3. Additionally, providers want the ability to pick the right medication the first time and consider potential roadblocks at the outset, such as a patient’s insurance coverage, copays, or drug availability.

The industry is finally seeing the interplay of specialty and infusion pharmacies. By leveraging each other’s strengths, the pharmacy industry is building something stronger, more collaborative, and ultimately easier for patients and providers to navigate. Bringing together the specialty and infusion model will close gaps in care and create meaningful bridges between all stakeholders involved in patient care.

REFERENCES

1. Number of ambulatory health care establishments in the U.S. from 2007 to 2022. Statista. Accessed July 22, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/450224/us-ambulatory-health-care-establishments-total-number/

2. Outpatient care in the US. Statista. Accessed July 22, 2025. https://www.statista.com/topics/9765/outpatient-care-in-the-us/#topicOverview

3. Szczotka A. Navigating the Rapid Growth of Specialty Drugs: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Path Ahead. Pharmacy Times. September 2, 2024. Accessed July 22, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/navigating-the-rapid-growth-of-specialty-drugs-opportunities-challenges-and-the-path-ahead

4. Benavidez GA, Zahnd WE, Hung P, Eberth JM. Chronic Disease Prevalence in the US: Sociodemographic and Geographic Variations by Zip Code Tabulation Area. Prev Chronic Dis. 2024;21:230267. doi:10.5888/pcd21.230267