Health care
BY RACHEL LELAND
Clear Lake Professional Building Pharmacy has a sta of roughly 10 people including pharmacists and technicians, according to the business’ website.
PHOTOS COURTESY CLEAR LAKE PROFESSIONAL BUILDING PHARMACY
KEVIN GRESS
How compounding medications works
preservatives or llers. There are many medications that are incredibly useful, but pharmaceutical companies often choose not to mass-produce them due to limited pro tability. What should someone know if using a compounding pharmacy for the rst time? First-time patients should know that compounded medications are made to order and can only be obtained by a prescription order from a licensed pro- vider. Not all compounding pharmacies are created equal. Look for someone with a proven track record and good standing with local physicians. How is compounding regulated? Compounding is regulated by state boards of pharmacy and guided by U.S. Pharmacopeia standards. Pharmacies must follow requirements for facility design, training, garbing, cleaning, documen- tation and quality control to protect patient safety. Chemicals sourced in compounding must come from FDA-registered facilities. Does insurance cover compounded medications? Insurance coverage for compounded medications varies by plan. Some commercial and Medicare Part D plans cover compounds, but it is entirely dependent on the ingredients of the compound. In the majority of cases, insurance considers them to be non-formulary and require cash payment.
There are roughly 56,000 community-based or retail pharmacies in the U.S., and of these, 7,500 are compounding pharmacies, according to the Ameri- can Pharmacists Association. In an interview with Community Impact , Kevin Gress, pharmacy manager at Clear Lake Professional Building Pharmacy in Webster, discussed all things to know regarding compounding pharmacies. What is a compounding pharmacy? A compounding pharmacy custom-prepares medi- cations tailored to individual patient needs. This can include personalized strengths, dosage forms and formulations not available commercially. Com- pounding pharmacies provide various functions like removing allergens, pediatric medications, adjusting avors or creating unique delivery methods like creams and lozenges. Compounding pharmacies also play a role in bridging medication shortages. We specialize in bio-identical hormones, dermatological compounds and safer alternatives for patients with chronic pain. We also do compound for children and pets. When would someone need a compounding pharmacy? Patients may need a compounding pharmacy when a commercially available drug is discontinued, on backorder or not made in the strength or dosage form their provider recommends. Compounding is also useful for patients with allergies to dyes,
Clear Lake Professional Building Pharmacy opened its doors in 1972, according to the business’ website.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com.
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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD MANVEL EDITION
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