Humana’s postgraduate year one (PGY1) managed care pharmacy residency program

Humana’s goal is to help people achieve lifelong well-being by offering a wide range of insurance products and health/wellness services to support members’ physical, emotional, and social needs. CenterWell Pharmacy™ and Humana Pharmacy Solutions, Inc. are accredited by multiple organizations and have received many awards.

The residency program allows pharmacy residents to collaborate and make contributions within multi-disciplinary teams to support Humana members in achieving their best health. The program provides learning opportunities in multiple areas to provide pharmaceutical care at a population health level. Residents gain experience in an integrated health plan and pharmacy benefit management corporate setting, which prepares them for successful careers as managed care pharmacists.

Humana recruited their first resident and began the process to become an accredited residency program in 1997. Since then, Humana has hosted residents from thirty-two colleges of pharmacy located in twenty-one states and Washington, D.C. Including the 2022-2023 residency program graduates, 48/50 (96%) participants have received a certificate of completion. Although job placement is not guaranteed, 35/48 (73%) of residency training program alumni have worked as Humana associates after program completion.

Program purpose

Humana’s PGY1 managed care pharmacy residency program develops future managed care leaders. Using the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) PGY1 program purpose, Humana’s program supports training pharmacists to provide a solid foundation in population-based pharmaceutical care. It supports training the next generation of managed care pharmacists to support the best health outcomes for patients. Upon graduation from the program, residents are qualified to take the Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) board certification exam and/or pursue postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training. ASHP in partnership with the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) accredits Humana’s PGY1 managed care pharmacy residency program.

As a managed care pharmacy resident, you will enjoy all of the benefits provided to full-time Humana employees, including but not limited to:

• Competitive compensation
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Life, long-term care, and disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid time off and holidays
• Paid volunteer day and personal day
• Charitable gift matching
• Employee assistance program
• Discount programs with major retailers

In addition to benefits provided to full-time Humana employees, residents also receive:

• Professional organization membership dues (e.g., AMCP, ASHP)
• Conference travel (e.g., registration fees, flights, hotels, meals)
• No on call or staffing requirements

Learning experiences

Core learning experiences with each team are typically two to four weeks in duration. Key strategy and operational focus areas include:

• Clinical policy and formulary management (e.g., clinical drug evaluation and policy strategies, pharmacy and medical trend, pipeline) – Participate in clinical programs/products, formulary strategy/management, policy development, and drug pipeline/trend management.
• Specialty pharmacy (e.g., specialty pharmacy clinical team, stewardship programs and infusion strategies) – Participate in a comprehensive approach to managing specialty drugs within a managed care environment, including clinical strategy, clinical programs, and business development.
• Clinical operations (e.g., Humana clinical pharmacy review) – Participate in reviewing prior authorization requests and non-formulary exception requests and/or appeals. Gain experience with the application of Lean Six Sigma to support clinical processes.
• Patient safety programs (e.g., stars and patient safety, medication therapy management strategy, Humana Pharmacy Solutions [HPS] clinical program strategies) – Participate in clinical programs to improve medication usage and safety, and associated Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) and The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) star ratings.

Longitudinal learning experiences are at least twelve weeks in duration (overlapping scheduled core rotations):

• Teaching certificate – Complete ASHP’s online teaching certificate courses to develop practice-related educational skills including preceptorship of Advanced Practice Pharmacy Experience (APPE) students. Develop a teaching philosophy and create a customized teaching portfolio.
• Research project & manuscript – Complete a research project with an internal research team including experienced research professionals, statisticians, and clinicians; present results as a poster at a national pharmacist meeting (e.g., AMCP Annual). Prepare a manuscript draft for potential submission to a peer-reviewed journal for publication consideration.
• Professional development and leadership – Further your leadership skills through various professional opportunities including, but not limited to, topics of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution.

A two-week elective learning block is built into the schedule; offerings vary year-to-year based upon resident interest, preceptor availability, and business need (e.g., clinical formulary administration, CenterWell specialty pharmacy clinical team, stewardship programs & infusion strategies, pipeline).

All primary preceptors completed post-doctorate training (e.g., residency, fellowship), have an additional advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MPH), are board certified (e.g., BCPS, BCOP), and/or have at least ten years of professional experience.

2023 planned in person residency showcase locations:

• Oct 18: AMCP Nexus (Orlando, FL)
• Oct 27: Kentucky Society of Health-System Pharmacists (KSHP) Fall Meeting (Elizabeth, IN)
• Dec 5: ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting (Anaheim, CA)

The 52-week postgraduate training program is planned to begin on July 1, 2024. Apply through the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) by January 2, 2024.

To apply, visit: PhORCAS .

Applicants must include the following information:

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Three professional letters of recommendation
• Official transcript from an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited school of pharmacy (separate undergraduate transcripts not required but may be submitted)
• Letter of intent explaining in 500 words or less why you are pursuing a managed care pharmacy residency and what you hope to gain from Humana’s program.

Candidates must be licensed or eligible for licensure in state or jurisdiction in which the residency program is conducted. Select candidates will be invited to participate in on-site and/or virtual interviews.

Program location: Louisville, Kentucky

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