Happy tears highlight impact for pharmacy technician

As a certified pharmacy technician, Molly Walter, CPhT, regularly helps University of Iowa Health Care patients navigate the complexities of specialty medications. 

She provides support for prior authorizations and copay assistance, and is a helpful resource for her aging patients, especially with Medicare. 

In June, Walter was recognized as Pharmacy Technician of the Year by the Iowa Pharmacy Association. Walter’s nominators describe her as an “ideal team player” in her role on the Specialty Pharmacy team. 

“Without Molly’s expertise and dedication to patient care,” said one nominator, “many patients would simply not have access to the therapy they need.” 

We asked Walter to share more about her role, her most memorable moment at UI Health Care, and her life outside of work. 

My role is Benefits Investigation and Prior Authorization Representative for the Specialty Pharmacy. I oversee specific clinics within the Specialty Pharmacy with the bulk of my work being for cardiology, lipidology, and orthopedics. My job includes assessing a patient’s current insurance status and completing prior authorizations and appeals for specialty medications. 

Because most of my key clinics often have an older patient population, I spend a lot of time explaining the ins and outs of Medicare Part D to help our patients better understand their potential costs and responsibilities. 

When needed, I also assist in enrolling patients in grants, copay cards, and other programs that help our patients afford these, typically, high-cost medications. I also act as resource for sharing information on programs like the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) and Extra Help which can make a big difference in our patients’ lives.  

Ideally, I’m a liaison between the doctors, ARNPs, pharmacists, nurses and a patient’s insurance. This frees up the providers' time to focus on direct patient care, rather than spending time on the phone or filling out paperwork. The goal is to match our patients to available resources so they can make the best medical choice for their needs without worrying so much about the price tag.