CCS report highlights role of chronic care providers in supporting diabetes patients 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - As the number of diabetes patients continues to grow and pharmacy workloads intensify, a new report led by CCS highlights a critical gap in patient education and support. The findings reveal that pharmacists are increasingly unable to provide the coaching and guidance diabetes patients need to stay healthy. 

Key findings from the CCS diabetes care report 

The report, developed with support from Pure Spectrum, surveyed more than 100 pharmacists across retail and community pharmacy settings. It uncovered several concerning trends: 

• Nearly half of pharmacists say people with diabetes are not receiving the education and support they need. 
• 74% report their performance is measured mainly on speed and fill rates, limiting patient interaction. 
• 93% agree patients prescribed continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) therapy should receive education and coaching, but many pharmacists lack the time to provide it. 

Chronic care management providers can fill the gap 

CCS emphasizes that chronic care management providers—specializing in medical supply delivery, patient education and coaching—can act as an extension of the care team. These providers help bridge the gap as pharmacists face increasing demands. 

“Pharmacists are deeply committed to their patients, but they are working in a system that often forces them to choose between filling prescriptions and providing patient education and coaching,” said Marian Lowe, chief strategy and development officer, CCS. “That’s where companies like CCS can help. We can serve as a provider and extension of the patient care team in the home, and can also complement the work of pharmacists by delivering ongoing education, personalized coaching, and connected care for people with diabetes—helping to ease the burden on pharmacies while ensuring high-risk patients don’t fall through the cracks.” 

A team-based approach to diabetes care 

The report advocates for a collaborative model in diabetes care, where each health care partner contributes their expertise. Pharmacists play a vital role in medication and therapy management, while organizations like CCS offer personalized onboarding for CGM devices, ongoing coaching and long-term care coordination. 

“As diabetes care becomes more complex, collaboration is critical,” said Lowe. “By working together—pharmacists, physicians, specialists, and DME providers—we can make sure every patient has access to the education, support, and tools they need to succeed.” 

Learn more 

To explore the full report, visit: ccsmed.com/ccs-retail-pharmacy-access.