Pharmacy Technicians and 340B Go Hand in Hand

The popular belief that pharmacy technicians are solely focused on dispensing drugs is a common misconception, especially when these techs are working for 340B hospitals. We speak about the increasingly important role pharmacy techs are playing in the 340B world with Dartmouth Health Senior 340B Analyst Kayla Ciampi. 

Getting Into the 340B World

After having limited experiences with 340B earlier in her career, Ciampi said things became “340B on steroids” once she moved to Dartmouth Health. Now much of her day-to-day responsibilities revolve around 340B purchasing and compliance issues, involving significant amount of time working with Excel, third-party administrators, and 340B claims auditing. She said what keeps her coming back are the challenges she tackles and the satisfaction she gets from finding solutions after hours of research.

The Changing 340B Roles of Pharmacy Techs

Ciampi says pharmacy techs are working hard figuring out when to purchase drugs on 340B accounts, ordering for contract pharmacies, and keeping track of increasing drugmakers restrictions. Techs are doing much of the analytical work behind the scenes to make sure 340B claims are eligible, making them a key part of the compliance infrastructure at hospitals.

Advice for Other Techs

As the 340B world picks up speed, Ciampi said being a pharmacy tech in that field can feel like being on a fast-moving freight train and trying to see what’s happening outside. Because of how rapidly that landscape is changing, she says attention to detail, a willingness to adapt, and a desire to learn are the keys to 340B success for techs.

Resources

1. 340B Health Urges CMS To Abandon Proposed Medicare Cuts to 340B Hospitals