Publix Battles Medication Non-adherence

Publix Super Markets Inc. has joined more than 20,000 pharmacies in a network administered by Adheris, a provider of direct-to-patient medication adherence programs. The partnership brings medication education and adherence programs to customers of the Southeast grocer’s 800 in-store pharmacies.

For nearly two decades, Burlington, Mass.-based Adheris has worked with its pharmacy network members to address the potentially costly issue of medication non-adherence, through highly customized and educational refill-reminder programs that strictly safeguard patient privacy. According to the New England Healthcare Institute, patients who don’t take their medications as prescribed by their physicians cost the U.S. health care system an estimated $290 billion in avoidable medical spending every year.

“As a neighborhood pharmacy, we are uniquely positioned to provide information on health and wellness to our customers,” noted Maria Brous, director of media and community relations at Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix, which has 1,041 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. “As part of the patient-pharmacist relationship, we also want our customers to remain compliant with their medications to promote the benefits of healthy living. Our partnership with Adheris reinforces our commitment to overall customer service and education.”

“We … strongly believe patients, and the health care industry as a whole, benefit when multiple stakeholders come together to address this complex issue,” added Mike Roberts, VP of pharmacy operations at Adheris, an inVentiv Health company.