Healthcare was a hot issue during the presidential race. Voters concerned about rising costs looked to candidates to provide a plan to ensure care was accessible, affordable, and up to par with global standards. In response, Donald Trump gave voters a platform promising to increase transparency, choice and competition in healthcare.

To achieve those goals, the Trump administration should focus on efforts to address the following healthcare issues, each of which could play a significant role in crafting a system that serves patients with excellence and efficiency.

Support long-term care at home pharmacy services.

Alleviating the pressures placed on the healthcare system by the aging population will be one of the biggest challenges Trump will face. Studies show that while baby boomers are living longer than generations before them, they are in worse health, suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer, heart issues and diabetes.

To add to the problem, a shortage of healthcare professionals is making it harder for the aging population to find the care they need. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the physician shortage in the United States is expected to top 85,000 by 2036.

Long-term care at home pharmacy services offers a solution to these problems. By providing medication management, patient education and other critical pharmacy services to patients in their homes, long-term care at home pharmacy can mitigate the need for costly facility-based care for more acute chronic disease cases, increase patient adherence to medications, decrease hospital readmissions, and reduce the total cost of care for health plans while ensuring patients have what they need to age in place. Developing policies and funding to recognize and expand these services should be one of the administration’s top healthcare goals.

Recognize pharmacists as integral healthcare providers.

As the number of physicians declines, healthcare providers must identify other resources to fill the gap. Pharmacists fit the bill, providing patients with the expertise and accessibility needed to alleviate the strain on hospitals and clinics.

However, to empower pharmacists to step into that role, the administration must support legislative efforts to recognize pharmacists as key healthcare providers. One step in that direction would be granting pharmacists “provider status,” which would give them the ability to bill for clinical services in the same way other recognized healthcare providers do.

Put in place equitable reimbursement policies.

Pharmacists who provide long-term care at home pharmacy services meet several critical patient needs. They enable better medication adherence, enhance patient safety, and reduce costs while increasing patients’ comfort and convenience. Unfortunately, the reimbursement rates for this care are not currently at a level that reflects the unique demands of the service, which makes it difficult for pharmacists to sustain their work in that area.

If the administration could provide equitable reimbursement policies for these services, it would be a win for the entire healthcare system. It would improve the availability of important pharmacy services, providing a release valve for the pressure placed on doctors and hospitals. It would also support better care adherence, which reduces healthcare costs by preventing complications and managing chronic conditions effectively.

Empower patient-centered pharmacy models.

Patient-centered care, which seeks to assess and address each patient’s unique needs and preferences, has been shown to improve outcomes by allowing providers to better diagnose issues and prescribe treatments. However, the personalized attention required for patient-centered care only adds to the strain today’s healthcare providers are experiencing.

By empowering patient-centered pharmacy models, the administration would provide another outlet for patients to receive integrated, preventive and personalized care. The result would be better medication management and chronic care monitoring, both of which could reduce hospitalizations.

During a debate leading up to the election, Trump said he is seeking a healthcare system that is “better and less expensive.” To achieve those goals, the administration must harness the untapped potential of pharmacy-based services.

This includes establishing systems that expand pharmacy-based care services, protecting and enhancing pharmacy reimbursements, and nationally recognizing pharmacists as healthcare providers. Without those measures, his vision for a better and less expensive healthcare system will remain incomplete.