Managed care is a critical, behind-the-scenes field of practice that helps keep health care affordable for the millions of individuals covered by health insurance.

This 10-module series, offering 20 designated credit hours specifically designed for pharmacy technicians, introduces key managed care concepts that affect practice on a daily basis. Activities within this series go beyond explaining how topics like prior authorization, step therapy, and formularies work but also explain why they are put into place and how pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can help patients navigate them effectively.

Regardless of your current field of practice, all pharmacy technicians can benefit from a stronger understanding of managed care, as these concepts apply to the more than 90% of Americans with some kind of health insurance. Gaining an appreciation of the nuance on topics like Medicare enrollment, Affordable Care Act subsidies, pharmacy benefit managers, and specialty drugs and biosimilars will allow pharmacy technicians in all settings better address questions and concerns from patients and their caregivers.

This series also highlights the diverse roles of managed care pharmacy technicians and the wide range of professional opportunities that exist in this highly sought-after field. Learning about the various opportunities that exist in this field is the first step of potentially defining the next steps in your career.

Upon completion of this series, you will have a firm grasp of the state of managed health care in the United States and will be able to utilize this knowledge to help your patients more effectively navigate the health care system.