Q: How can I be assertive, but not too pushy when providers seem skeptical about my services?7/22/2019 "When you learn to flip the conversation from 'you pitching' to one of 'you learning about the other person', it feels so much more natural. Yesterday, I asked on LinkedIn, "What questions do you have about Starting Conversations about the value of pharmacist-led clinical services?" I got several great questions about sample scripts and ROI for pharmacist services. One of the commenters, Lydia, asked a great question.... How can I be assertive, but not too pushy when providers seem skeptical about my services? I answered her question on the 37 minute mark on the video, but my short answer would be that people don't like being "sold at" and the fastest way to make someone to feel that way is to go in telling them exactly what you think they need. The other day someone I'd connected with on LinkedIn for all of about 5 minutes asked me for a phone call to "share an opportunity that would greatly benefit me". The reason it doesn't feel good to sell that way is because you really have no way of knowing if your 'opportunity' would actually be of interest. When you learn to flip the conversation from 'you pitching' to one of 'you learning about the other person', it feels so much more natural. In general, I don't even recommend you pitch until you have asked permission to and feel that you actually do have something of interest to offer. As an athlete growing up, I'd always heard the best offense is a great defense. In the approach I teach, you do not go in with a hard offense. You go in trying to ASSESS their needs and anticipate their challenges. In the Business Blueprint framework, we use the 4 A's to described a selling process that identifies the client's needs and then creates a custom program around those needs. The first A is Assess and we do that using an Assessment Questionnaire to help foster beginning those conversations. So really, there isn't a magical pitch or a 'convincing speech' to memorize, its about building personal relationships, having a solid understanding of what a pharmacist could offer the clinic and a step by step process for getting started. The Business Blueprint gives you the framework for creating programs that your clients WANT. Around the 60 minute mark I bring in Tara Snyder, a pharmacist currently working in a physician's office, to share about her experiences and how the Academy can help you get your programs in place faster. Here's the replay from last night's call! You'll see on the call, I made a Special Offer for Beta Members who join the Pharmapreneur Academy before Wednesday, July 24th. Join by midnight 7/24/19 and receive a free, physical copy of the Business Blueprint Workbook! 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Blair Green Thielemier, PharmD is an independent consultant pharmacist living in Arkansas with her husband and two children. Her latest project is the host and producer of pharmacy’s first virtual conference, the Elevate Pharmacy Virtual Summit in partnership with the NCPA Innovation Center. She is the founder of Pharmapreneur Academy, an online e-Course and Community where she guides pharmacist-entrepreneurs through the process and barriers of building a pharmacy consulting business. She is the author of How to Build a Pharmacy Consulting Business and facilitates in-person Business Planning Workshops and Mastermind Retreats for female Pharmapreneurs across the country. More information about Dr. Thielemier can be found on her website.
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 "I just wanted to say thanks again for all your help. In the past year I've consulted for six pharmacies doing MTM work and have garnered over $25,000! It has been a great side gig for sure." Many pharmacists impacted by the recent Wal-Mart layoffs have been reaching out to me for advice. I know all too well what they’re going through having been laid off in 2014. I've freely shared about the year I lost my job and had to supplement my income by doing relief work. That year I took an unexpected $40,000 pay cut. The next year I was able to build a "side hustle" --- an MTM consulting business while also working 'prn' at various location. It was a slow build and something I wish I'd started BEFORE I actually needed it! The tough pill to swallow is that a pharmacy consulting business typically requires a time investment before it reaches maturity. You have to plant your seeds, lay the foundation, build a strategy, and get your first clients. That being said, my advice is the same for those who think they can’t wait and those feeling secure in a full-time job: PLANT YOUR SEEDS NOW. It’s worth it. Even if you’re looking for full-time employment, you can start that process now. My own consulting business took about six months to mature. If you secure a full-time job in that span, great! If you don’t, you’re building a sustainable income you can rely on. Don't just take it from me, hundreds of pharmacists have been able to build freelance consulting businesses on the side. Like Brad who said, "I just wanted to say thanks again for all your help. In the past year I've consulted for six pharmacies doing MTM work and have garnered over $25,000! It has been a great side gig for sure." Starting a freelance pharmacy consulting program has never been easier or taught in a more step-by-step way. Don't wait until you need a new income stream. Start building your side business now and give yourself some space to breathe. If you’re interested in hearing more, join me for my upcoming free webinar on July 21. I’ll share my outlook on our profession, which - thanks to my own business - is very optimistic. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR AND RECEIVE A VERY SPECIAL OFFER! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Blair Green Thielemier, PharmD is an independent consultant pharmacist living in Arkansas with her husband and two children. Her latest project is the host and producer of pharmacy’s first virtual conference, the Elevate Pharmacy Virtual Summit in partnership with the NCPA Innovation Center. She is the founder of Pharmapreneur Academy, an online e-Course and Community where she guides pharmacist-entrepreneurs through the process and barriers of building a pharmacy consulting business. She is the author of How to Build a Pharmacy Consulting Business and facilitates in-person Business Planning Workshops and Mastermind Retreats for female Pharmapreneurs across the country. More information about Dr. Thielemier can be found on her website. 
"If more value is what payers, providers and patients are looking for, they need look no further than CONSULTANT PHARMACISTS."
The goal of this new free webinar is to help you Understand Pay for Performance Legislation and Use it to Build Your Dream Career Today!
Many pharmacists come to me with a dream of working in a physician's office but are unsure of how much value they could add to a practice. During this time of upheaval and change in the healthcare industry, it time for pharmacists to STEP UP. If more value is what payers, providers and patients are looking for, they need to look no further than CONSULTANT PHARMACISTS. Imagine working side by side with providers to help them become more Productive & Profitable! On this webinar, you'll learn: ✔ How to leverage MACRA and created Collaborative Practice Agreements that align with CMS's Provider Quality Benchmarks. ✔ Re-branding pharmacy services in order to create more VALUE. ✔ Strategies for positioning your services as a great option for high-risk patients. ✔ Examples of Consultant Services other Pharmacists have created with Collaborative providers. ✔ Pharmacist-led interventions that will IMPROVE physician quality metrics. ✔ How to create a plan to get your idea and your business off the ground with frameworks for packaging, pricing, marketing and delivering your new programs! You can do it and you don't have to have special credentials to make an impact. Learn how to leverage the skills you already have by creating clinical programs that align with the goal of MACRA. This, my friends and colleagues, is the direction of pharmacy. This is how we ADVANCE THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY. Hop onboard or get left behind! 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Blair Green Thielemier, PharmD is an independent consultant pharmacist living in Arkansas with her husband and two children. Her latest project is the host and producer of pharmacy’s first virtual conference, the Elevate Pharmacy Virtual Summit in partnership with the NCPA Innovation Center. She is the founder of Pharmapreneur Academy, an online e-Course and Community where she guides pharmacist-entrepreneurs through the process and barriers of building a pharmacy consulting business. She is the author of How to Build a Pharmacy Consulting Business and facilitates in-person Business Planning Workshops and Mastermind Retreats for female Pharmapreneurs across the country. More information about Dr. Thielemier can be found on her website.
I've always LOVED to read, but then I went to pharmacy school, started working full time, had a few babies and built a six figure business.
Reading was relegated to 10 pages before bed each night via beside lamp with tired, strained eyes... ...and then, I became to tired for even that much focus. Then my friend suggested I try Audible, an Amazon app where you can listen to audiobooks. I began listening and since then, my love for 'reading' has returned in full force. I immediately signed up for the monthly subscription and now look forward to spending my 'credit' each month. In full disclosure, I usually DON'T WAIT until the 24th of each month and sometimes buy more than one or two books each month according to my book budget. Some of these are business books, some are biographies, but all of them have added value to my life so I wanted to share them with you. Note: these are affiliate links through Amazon, they don't cost you anything extra they just give me a small percentage of the book price for a referral. Generally I spend my Amazon affiliate income on buy more books! 1. The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self Discovery
My friend Chrissie introduced me to the Enneagram and its helped my get a better grasp on why people act the way they do and what their motivations are in relationships.
I'm a 7 and my husband is a 9. 2. Clockwork
This is a great book for the established entrepreneur running a six-figure business.
I can help you stay in your 'genius' and work on hiring out the rest. THIS is my Achilles heel! 3. Notorious NBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsberg
I'm totally not in to politics, but I AM in to strong women. RBG is the strongest, literally, at 80+ she's still lifting weights and pulling her weight on the Supreme Court.
4. Capital Gaines: Smart Things I've Learned By Doing Stupid Stuff
We love Chip and Joanna -- Who DOESN'T???
I love they've built a business around being themselves and supporting their community. This bio provided laughs and insights about how to succeed by doing what you love and most importantly: how to enjoy the journey. 5. Becoming
Again, couldn't care less about politics, but I love Michelle Obama's message of stepping out of other people's expectations and creating your own rules for living authentically.
6. Get Rich, Lucky Bitch!
The title put me off at first. I don't believe I'm lucky or a b-word.
However, this book is more about building a business by changing your mindset around money and your own WORTH. Key takeaway, great business book with though provoking essay questions! 7. Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine
The beginner's guide to not stressing about your taxes, what to pay yourself or how much you should be investing in your business.
I recommend this book for all Academy members who need to create 'buckets' for 1099 revenue. Personally, I feel so much better about my financial picture after implementing the strategies outlined in this book. 8. The Big Leap
A thought provoking discussion on getting out of our own way and letting abundance come into our lives. Its not too 'woo-woo' but it is a good introduction to self-awareness.
If you are:
This is the book for you! 9. Rocket Fuel
Examining how Visionary entrepreneurs are best supported by practical Integrators.
A great look at who you need to be in order to grow your business. 10. Exactly What to Say: The Magic Words for Influence and Impact
For the pharmacist who needs 'scripts' for working on their communication and sales techniques.
This is a quick read/listen that I refer back to constantly. 11. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen
If you're just getting started with branding and identifying your target market, this book will get you thinking about how you can succinctly share your message.
12. Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think
I love any book by Peter Diamandis , but this one is my favorite.
If you think the future is doom and gloom, this book provides a great argument for why its actually going to be pretty awesome! 13. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
Definitely an advanced course in mindset and the 'woo'.
Provides great mantras and practical steps for becoming self aware and changing the way you talk to yourself by examining thoughts and beliefs. 14. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
If you like Elizabeth Gilbert and her take on creativity, this book is the best on the subject.
Listen to get inspired to take big creative leaps! 15. The Seven Figure Pharmacist
Written by colleagues and friends Tim Church and Tim Ulbrich, this book is the financial 'Bible' for pharmacists.
So much great stuff on student loans, debt payoff, investing and retirement. I'm even mentioned in the Building a Side Hustle chapter! 
16. The Beautiful No
I just finished reading this brilliant book and had so many 'ah-ha' moments. Probably because Sheri Salata learned from the best working with the Oprah Winfrey for 25 years!
A fantastic books about boundaries, accepting oneself and living authentically. 17. How to Build a Pharmacy Consulting Business: Your Rx for Finding Freedom and Loving Your Career
Yes, this is my own book, but when recently re-released in Audible I re-listened to it and it reminded me of how excited I am about sharing my message of pharmacy entrepreneurship.
Note: For your listening pleasure, I did not read it myself, I hired a lady with a much more lovely voice than my own! Want a free promo code for this audio book? Email me at blairthielemier@btpharmacyconsulting.com and I'll send ya one!
That's a wrap!
What are your favorite reads? What's on your Summer Reading List? Send me your link and I'll add it to my Audible Wishlist! 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Blair Green Thielemier, PharmD is an independent consultant pharmacist living in Arkansas with her husband and two children. Her latest project is the host and producer of pharmacy’s first virtual conference, the Elevate Pharmacy Virtual Summit in partnership with the NCPA Innovation Center. She is the founder of Pharmapreneur Academy, an online e-Course and Community where she guides pharmacist-entrepreneurs through the process and barriers of building a pharmacy consulting business. She is the author of How to Build a Pharmacy Consulting Business and facilitates in-person Business Planning Workshops and Mastermind Retreats for female Pharmapreneurs across the country. More information about Dr. Thielemier can be found on her website. 
Imagine gathering for one day with a small group of brilliant female pharmacists to help grow each other's careers and businesses! Why come?
This is a business retreat for female Phamapreneurs who are ready to focus on Growing Their Careers. The Retreat and Mastermind is Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas, NV. Breakfast and lunch are included with your ticket. We'll have a working lunch that leads into our intimate Mastermind session. Tentative Schedule: Friday, September 13th 9-11am The Retreat to help you plan and develop new projects for the year ahead and discuss opportunities for growing your business! In the Workshop, you'll get one-on-one help to create a the Career of Your Dreams. Including specific exercises on:
Friday, September 13th 12-2:30pm During the Mastermind, each participant will have a 20-30 minute "Thought Seat". In the Thought Seat, we'll shine a spotlight on your business. You'll have a chance to ask for the advice and resources of the group and get feedback on your Strategic Plan. Everyone will get a chance to talk about their businesses, work on their strategic plan for the year and get help from the team. Half the Attendees will have their Thought Seats on Friday afternoon and the rest will have them on Saturday afternoon The Mastermind portion will end around 2:30pm leaving plenty of time for implementation and reflection. Friday evening free period The Red Rock Resort has a ton of amenities and attractions for you to enjoy! Saturday, September 14th 9am-12pm The Business Development Workshop to help you plan and develop new projects for the year ahead and discuss opportunities for growing your business! In the Workshop, you'll get one-on-one help to create a the Career of Your Dreams. Including specific exercises on:
Saturday, September 14th 12-3pm During the Mastermind, each participant will have a 20-30 minute "Thought Seat". In the Thought Seat, we'll shine a spotlight on your business. You'll have a chance to ask for the advice and resources of the group and get feedback on your Strategic Plan. Everyone will get a chance to talk about their businesses, work on their strategic plan for the year and get help from the team. Half the Attendees will have their Thought Seats on Friday afternoon and the rest will have them on Saturday afternoon The Mastermind portion will end at 3pm. The remainder of the day can be spent on your choice of activities at the spa, the pool, the casino, a nike hike or some other relaxing activities until dinner. Saturday evening 7pm Goodbye Dinner + Show Put your fancy clothes on we're going out on the town for a fabulous dinner and a show. We will leave the hotel promptly at 6:45pm You'll leave the Retreat refreshed and re-energized, with a plan to move your business and vision forward! /
Blair, I'm so impressed with the level of detail that you put into this. From creating a special planner to having gifts, it was very well thought out and I think you had some good content prepared.
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The mastermind experience was a great way to get away from my business and babies and focus on planning. It was an investment and time dedication to planning- which means that planning would happen.
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It was a great small group experience that helped me see people in all walks of life trying to achieve a dream. Totally different than what I expected because it wasn't a group of just independent pharmacy owners trying to make ends meet. I did love that it was all women as most groups are mixed. I would love to do this again!
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 Think you may be interested?
Its application only so please email blairthielemier@btpharmacyconsulting.com for an application! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Blair Green Thielemier, PharmD is an independent consultant pharmacist living in Arkansas with her husband and two children. Her latest project is the host and producer of pharmacy’s first virtual conference, the Elevate Pharmacy Virtual Summit in partnership with the NCPA Innovation Center. She is the founder of Pharmapreneur Academy, an online e-Course and Community where she guides pharmacist-entrepreneurs through the process and barriers of building a pharmacy consulting business. She is the author of How to Build a Pharmacy Consulting Business and facilitates in-person Business Planning Workshops and Mastermind Retreats for female Pharmapreneurs across the country. More information about Dr. Thielemier can be found on her website.  We have something for everyone in nearly any pharmacy practice site: the Academic Aces, the Community CEOs, the Hospital Heros, the Primary Care Pros and many more! Truth: Being a pharmacist is not for the faint of heart. It can be stressful, challenging and yes, overwhelming. And did I mention stressful? Then... why do we do it, day in and day out? One simple reason: We believe in serving people so we can add that little bit of hope and happiness to a patient's life. BUT At the end of the day, you have a ton of responsibility and pressure placed on you. Like your patients depend on you, you depend on your career to provide FINANCIAL STABILITY and PERSONAL FULFILLMENT. However, with all the negativity swirling around the these days with pitiful reimbursement and job market instability, it can be easy to get discouraged. But not these pharmacists... I've gathered some of the most influential, inspiring pharmacists in the industry to share their stories. They share tips and advice on how they were able to SUCCEED DIFFERENTLY. NOW I'M SHARING THEIR STORIES WITH YOU! The best part? The Elevate Pharmacy Virtual Summit is FREE. Don't get me wrong, there is a TON of value in attending in-person conferences, however, the truth is more often than not, you can't attend those because of budget, time constraints, kids, staffing issues, etc. Needless to say, pharmacy is also so diverse, it would be nearly impossible to attend ALL the THINGS. With Elevate, however, you get instant access to high-quality information and new ideas to grow your business and career. We have something for everyone in nearly any practice site: the Academic Aces, the Community CEOs, the Hospital Heros, the Primary Care Pros and many more. It's cost-effective and convenient, and you don't even step out of the comfort of your home or pharmacy! 5 days of info-packed sessions, 20+ expert brains waiting to be picked, 48-hour access to each day's interviews & 9 hours of CE credit up for grabs. With all that amazing content, you're going to need a plan! Click here to download our exclusive Summit Playbook with the Event Agenda It's all yours, all free, and it starts on Wednesday, May 8th, 2019! This year's Summit is back and it's going to be even bigger and better than last year, click here to check out our Agenda! Day 1 – Collaborating with Synergistic Healthcare Professionals Day 2 – Growing Revenue through Clinical Services Day 3 – Marketing Strategies for Your Pharmacy Skillset Day 4 – Innovating to Provide Value-Based Care Day 5 – Niching Down and Positioning Yourself as an Expert Last year, we registered 1,800 pharmacists from around the globe and a good percentage of them decided the content was so valuable, we got messages like these:
And did I mention those 9 CE hours up for grabs are accredited for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians through our partners at the NCPA Innovation Center? Are you ready to Elevate Your Practice? Click here to register before you forget! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Blair Green Thielemier, PharmD is an independent consultant pharmacist living in Arkansas with her husband and two children. Her latest project is the host and producer of pharmacy’s first virtual conference, the Elevate Pharmacy Virtual Summit in partnership with the NCPA Innovation Center. She is the founder of Pharmapreneur Academy, an online e-Course and Community where she guides pharmacist-entrepreneurs through the process and barriers of building a pharmacy consulting business. She is the author of How to Build a Pharmacy Consulting Business and facilitates in-person Business Planning Workshops and Mastermind Retreats for female Pharmapreneurs across the country. More information about Dr. Thielemier can be found on her website. If you’ve ever wondered how to legally protect yourself as a pharmacy consultant, I’ve got good news: Getting the legal documents you need doesn’t have to take tons of time spent in meetings with lawyers or even gobs of $$$ to make it happen. No matter what stage your business is in, it does have legal needs that can’t be ignored. However, I understand that time and money are often a concern, so having the option to do it yourself with the right forms can make all the difference when it comes to just getting it done quickly and correctly. And that’s exactly why I’ve partnered with Businessese to offer you an array of super-affordable DIY legal templates, custom-created by an attorney for the distinct needs of your pharmacy consulting business! CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TEMPLATES WE'VE PUT TOGETHER Believe me, this is THE simplest, fastest way to protect yourself and your business as a consultant pharmacist. No stuffy sit-down meetings with lawyers required (I've already done that part for you!). In our recent live training webinar, we proudly presented the 4 new Businessese Legal Templates designed exclusively for consultant pharmacists:
Danielle and I created these DIY legal forms to save you tons of time, money and prevent legal headaches down the road. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Blair Green Thielemier, PharmD is an independent consultant pharmacist living in Arkansas with her husband and two children. Her latest project is the host and producer of pharmacy’s first virtual conference, the Elevate Pharmacy Virtual Summit in partnership with the NCPA Innovation Center. She is the founder of Pharmapreneur Academy, an online e-Course and Community where she guides pharmacist-entrepreneurs through the process and barriers of building a pharmacy consulting business. She is the author of How to Build a Pharmacy Consulting Business and facilitates in-person Business Planning Workshops and Mastermind Retreats for female Pharmapreneurs across the country. More information about Dr. Thielemier can be found on her website. 
As a new or established small business owner, you’ve no doubt got tons on your mind—ensuring you’re providing the highest quality of support to your patients, generating more traffic to your website to bring in new clients, staying up-to-date on the latest resources and knowledge in your field—the list continues. Something you may not have thought about, however, is preparing legal documents for your business. When I first started this blog, I didn't have a clue which privacy policies or terms and conditions were required to protect my website visitors! And, let’s face it — dealing with your legal needs isn’t exactly the most exciting part of your business. After all, you trained as a pharmacist, not a lawyer. But here’s the deal: no matter what stage your pharmacy consulting business is in, it does have legal needs that can’t be ignored. Handling the legal items for your business now so they don’t become a problem later means your business has a SOLID FOUNDATION going forward. The Pharmapreneur Academy has partnered with Businessese to create super-affordable DIY legal templates, custom-created by an attorney for the specific needs of consultant pharmacists! Join us LIVE, Sunday April 7th at 8pm CENTRAL for a free training on how to getting "Scripts for Success: Legal Forms for Pharmapreneurs" Danielle Liss, Esq. Founder of Businessese and myself will be co-hosting a free, LIVE webinar discussing the forms that will save you tons of time, money and prevent legal headaches down the road:
With all the complexities that come with running a consulting business — particularly as a pharmacist — doing so without legal protection simply isn’t worth the risk. So, join us live Sunday, April 7th at 8pm CENTRAL for a free, live training on how to using Scripts for Your Legal Needs as a Pharmapreneur! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Blair Green Thielemier, PharmD is an independent consultant pharmacist living in Arkansas with her husband and two children. Her latest project is the host and producer of pharmacy’s first virtual conference, the Elevate Pharmacy Virtual Summit in partnership with the NCPA Innovation Center. She is the founder of Pharmapreneur Academy, an online e-Course and Community where she guides pharmacist-entrepreneurs through the process and barriers of building a pharmacy consulting business. She is the author of How to Build a Pharmacy Consulting Business and facilitates in-person Business Planning Workshops and Mastermind Retreats for female Pharmapreneurs across the country. More information about Dr. Thielemier can be found on her website. 
 FINANCIAL FEBRUARYHaving a good handle on your personal finances is the best head start you can give yourself in business. Do you have a good understanding of personal expenses (whether you use the "b" word or not ... budget)? If so, it will be easier to calculate how much money you actually need to walk away from a job. Pharmacists often ask me: How long will it take to replace my pharmacist salary so I can leave my job? But I think that’s the wrong question. You should first ask yourself: What are my base fixed expenses that I must pay each month? When I put my pen to paper and really looked at my budget, I realized how little I actually needed to cover the basics! I had no idea how much less I could live off of until I wrote it down. That knowledge made my transition to entrepreneurship much less scary. The first year, after I lost my job, I took a $40,000 pay cut! But working for myself set me free. I also made every mistake there is to make on my road to entrepreneurship. That is why I invited Your Financial Pharmacist founder and author of The Seven Figure Pharmacist, Tim Ulbrich, to our February Member Call to talk about "How to Become a Seven Figure Pharmapreneur." I want Pharmapreneur Academy members to avoid the same missteps I made on my journey. Tim will teach us calculations and exercises to help us put our personal finances in order and build our businesses on a healthy financial foundation. I will also SHARE my own experiences with personal finance and how it’s changed my life. My kids are still a bit young to understand money but when we begin talking about it my first lesson to them will be: "You can afford ANYTHING you want, but can’t afford EVERYTHING." - Paula Pant I think that applies to business, too. You can afford to build the business of your dreams. As soon as you are willing to sit down and look at what you’re no longer willing to waste money, time, and energy on. Once you focus, you can redirect those resources into your business. 99491: THE NEW CCM CODE ON THE BLOCKDo you remember the "regular" CCM code 99490? It codes for about 20 minutes of a non-provider clinical staff member visit with a patient enrolled in a chronic care management (aka CCM) program. Code 99490 is for a once monthly non face to face visit with a patient that generally reimburses for about $42. As of January 2019 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid introduced a new code for CCM: 99491. The "little sister code," 99490, is for 20 minutes of non provider contact with a patient. The new code 99491 is for 30 minutes of “directly involved provider care.” That means it needs to be provided by a qualified healthcare professional instead of clinical staff member. At this point I would not recommend that pharmacists attempt to bill for code 99491 since in most states we do not have qualified health care provider status. The difference in reimbursement, however is quite generous. If you are practicing with a provider who spends a little bit of extra time with the patient in a given month the provider is able to bill for their time using the new higher reimbursing code. Whereas the 99490 code reimburses for about $42 dollars the new one reimburses for between $74 and $84 dollars At 30 minutes versus 20 minutes, code 99491 pays almost double what you would be paid for the 20 minute 99490 visit, thus reflecting the provider’s direct involvement. We expect to see code 99491 being used in place of with 99490 when on a certain month the provider must be more involved. However the 99490 and 99491 codes cannot be used together in the same calendar month. Additionally if you'll refer back to our complex and chronic care management code video you’ll see there's also a “complex code 99487” that codes at an even higher rate for a more complicated patient visit. Code 99487 cannot be used at the same time as a 99491 visit either. CMS wanted to give providers who are more involved in the patient's care a chance at the higher reimbursement. If, for example, the next month it can return to clinical staff member (or pharmacist) they can return to using the 99490 code. Just remember, right now, only ONE of the codes, 99490, 99491 or 99487 may be used per month based on the level of care provided. If you're interested in learning more about chronic care management, get more information and videos like this one delivered straight to your inbox by registering at btpharmacyconsulting.com/newsletter Ready to get your CCM consulting business of the ground? Click here to register for our LATEST webinar the Top 3 Most Successful Consulting Business Models  New! ELEVATE SUMMIT PODCAST Exciting news Pharmapreneurs! Our new podcast featuring interviews from the very first Elevate Pharmacy Virtual Summit has now launched. Not familiar with the Summit? The Summit is a way for pharmacy professionals to earn continuing education hours by listening to or watching interviews with industry experts. You can listen anywhere, like, the comfort of your own home. "We love the virtual summit because it allows all members of our pharmacy team to watch the interviews and get excited about the content." It can be tough for one person to come back from a conference and relay the excitement and information to others We know that not everyone can travel. But now there is a way to share in the experience while learning everything that’s usually only available to conference attendees. The Elevate Pharmacy Summit Podcast Season 1 Interviews about consulting in ambulatory care settings from: ⇢ Amina Abubakar ⇢ Joshua Akers, PharmD, BCACP ⇢ Nicholas Dorich ⇢ Mary Ann Kliethermes ⇢ Sandra Leal ⇢ Ashley Lorenzen PharmD BCPS ⇢ Kate Morton ⇢ Sue Paul ⇢ Michelle Thomas ⇢ DeArcy Vaughan, PharmD, MBA, BCACP, CDE, CTTS Listen to these interviews and get excited for this year’s Elevate Pharmacy Virtual Summit, May 8-12, 2019! You can get your free ticket at ElevatePharmacySummit.comNot a podcast junkie (yet)? Here's how to get on-board:
Keep an eye out for Season 2 to drop around the middle of March.  GxRPh: The Academy's Latest Training Course!
This is a message I received from one of my Pharmapreneur Academy members. I love getting these messages because it reminds me of the rush that comes with new opportunities. As a pharmacist, you may think you’re “stuck” in a certain type of job, but you’re not. I found MTM consulting and it changed my life. Now I’d like to help change yours. If you are interested in learning more about Pharmapreneur Academy, sign up for this Sunday's LIVE webinar! The free, Live training is March 3rd at 4pm CST --->>> CLICK HERE TO GRAB YOUR SEAT 2019 PHARMAPRENEUR WOMEN'S RETREAT AND MASTERMIND"It was a great small group experience that helped me see people in all walks of life trying to achieve a dream. Totally different than what I expected because it wasn't a group of just independent pharmacy owners trying to make ends meet. I did love that it was all women as most groups are mixed. I would love to do this again!" What is a MASTERMIND group? A mastermind group offers a combination of brainstorming, education, peer accountability and support in a group setting to sharpen your business and personal skills. I joined my first mastermind in 2016 with a group of women that saw eye-to-eye. I didn’t come from a family of entrepreneurs, so having other business owners to talk to was a huge benefit. It’s because of that experience that I am hosting my second mastermind retreat for female pharmacists! We will meet in Las Vegas for two days (Sept. 13 & 14, 2019) to help you plan and develop new projects for the year and discuss opportunities for growing your business. If you are interested, read more in the blog post and email me directly to see if you'd be a good fit! THE 3 "LEGS" OF THE PHARMAPRENEUR ACADEMYPersonal development is SO important for the business owner and the business.
SO MUCH SO, I RECENTLY DID AN ENTIRE TRAINING ON PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOAL SETTING. The Pharmapreneur Academy has some specific recommendations for services to offer. However much of it is business related advice (not clinical) and can translate to many different business models in pharmacy. Most of our members are either implementing consulting services in the community pharmacy setting (health coaching, weight management, genetic testing, etc) or in an ambulatory care setting under a collaborative physician. We now have over 160 members in the Pharmapreneur Academy and many of them started with some of the same questions you probably have right now. We've got members ranging from the brand-new entrepreneur to more advanced business owners who already have a consulting arrangement, but need help refining their model. There are 3 essential "legs" of the Pharmapreneur Academy: the e-Course, the Forums and the Monthly Member Calls.
The February member call is a training with Tim Ulbrich an expert on pharmacist personal finance and author of The Seven Figure Pharmacist ". It can be attended live or accessed via replay in the Academy Forums. The Pharmapreneur Academy is a good fit for pharmacists who are thinking about offering innovative services, but aren't sure exactly where to start. The e-course at the Academy is a comprehensive business coaching program for pharmacists wishing to start offering advanced consulting services. Thanks so much for reading and I'll see you right here again next Month! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Blair Green Thielemier, PharmD is an independent consultant pharmacist living in Arkansas with her husband and two children. Her latest project is the host and producer of pharmacy’s first virtual conference, the Elevate Pharmacy Virtual Summit in partnership with the NCPA Innovation Center. She is the founder of Pharmapreneur Academy, an online e-Course and Community where she guides pharmacist-entrepreneurs through the process and barriers of building a pharmacy consulting business. She is the author of How to Build a Pharmacy Consulting Business and facilitates in-person Business Planning Workshops and Mastermind Retreats for female Pharmapreneurs across the country. More information about Dr. Thielemier can be found on her website. 
Join us on March 3rd for a brand-new course on "How to Build a Genomics Consulting Business". In the GxRPh e-Course you'll learn:
GxRPh is great for pharmacists interested in:
On our free training we'll discuss
Plus, we'll be taking your Questions! Like...
Register now and join live or catch the replay!
About Your Host: Blair Thielemier, Founder & Coach, Pharmapreneur Academy
Blair Green Thielemier, PharmD is an independent consultant pharmacist living in Arkansas with her husband and two children. Her latest project is the host and producer of pharmacy’s first virtual conference, the Elevate Pharmacy Virtual Summit in partnership with the NCPA Innovation Center. She is the founder of Pharmapreneur Academy, an online e-Course and Community where she guides pharmacist-entrepreneurs through the process and barriers of building a pharmacy consulting business. She is the author of How to Build a Pharmacy Consulting Business and facilitates in-person Business Planning Workshops and Mastermind Retreats for female Pharmapreneurs across the country. More information about Dr. Thielemier can be found on her website. |
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