Dr. Devineni is a pharmacist with a unique and impactful career. She works as a Medicare Part D manager at Visiting Nurse Service of New York, ensuring that patients receive the medications they need while maintaining compliance with federal regulations. She was kind enough to share insights about her job. Here’s a look at what a day in Dr. Devineni’s life as a pharmacist looks like!
What Type of Pharmacist Are You?
I’m a managed care pharmacist—specifically, I work as a Medicare Part D manager. My role involves overseeing pharmacy benefits under my organization’s health plans. My key responsibilities include:
- Ensuring compliance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations.
- Acting as a subject matter expert in clinical aspects of the Part D benefit.
- Working closely with internal teams and external stakeholders to manage pharmacy-related healthcare services.
What Makes Your Career Path Unique?
My career is unique within managed care pharmacy because it is primarily focused on regulatory compliance. However, my clinical background from pharmacy school still plays a crucial role in my daily work. I bridge the gap between policy regulations and patient care, ensuring the best possible outcomes within federal guidelines.
What Does a Typical Workday Look Like?
As a Medicare Part D manager, my work follows an annual cyclical process, starting on January 1st with a new plan year and running until December 31st. Each day, I balance responsibilities for the current and upcoming plan years.
Some key tasks I handle in a typical week include:
- Meeting with the Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) to discuss plan performance and optimizations.
- Coordinating with internal departments on administrative functions of health plans.
- Engaging with CMS to ensure compliance and address regulatory requirements.
- Managing audit deliverables and ensuring accurate reporting.
The Most Rewarding Day of My Career
Insurance companies are often seen as restrictive due to coverage limitations. However, my job is to balance financial responsibility with ensuring access to essential medications.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is when my team successfully provides necessary medications without any wrongful denials. Knowing that our processes work efficiently to help elderly and vulnerable patients makes my job fulfilling.
The Most Challenging Part of My Career
Every day presents challenges due to the complexity of CMS regulations. Staying updated with federal policies is critical but time-consuming. Even minor errors can result in non-compliance, which can have significant legal and financial consequences for my organization.
Why I Chose Pharmacy Over Other Healthcare Professions
I was always passionate about science, particularly chemistry and biology. My father, a pharmacist and pharmaceutical company executive, was also a great mentor who influenced my career choice. Pharmacy allowed me to combine my scientific interests with the ability to make a direct impact on patient care.
Advice for Pharmacy Students
Build relationships with professors and mentors—they can guide you throughout your career.
- Stay open-minded and eager to learn—pharmacy school provides valuable opportunities for growth.
- Take full advantage of hands-on experience—internships and practice sites offer critical insights into potential career paths.
- Go beyond minimum requirements—actively engaging in clinical experiences will prepare you for the real world.
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