Asembia 2025: How AI and Payer Collaboration Are Shaping Pharmacy's Future

In an interview with Pharmaceutical Commerce, Chip Parkinson, the new CEO of Gift Health, shared his perspective on stepping into the role and the evolving challenges and opportunities across the healthcare landscape. Drawing on a diverse background that spans manufacturers, payers, and employer consulting, Parkinson discussed how his new position places him in closer contact with patients and prescribers than ever before. He also reflected on the state of specialty pharmacy, the potential of AI to improve access and affordability, and the importance of seeking diverse viewpoints in a rapidly shifting industry.

PC: As of today, you are the new CEO of GiftHealth. How has stepping into this role shaped your perspective going into events such as Asembia?

Parkinson: It’s been a significant shift for me. I’m now much closer to the patient than ever before. I’ve previously worked with manufacturers, payers, and served as a consultant to self-funded employers and health plans—all of which, in their own ways, serve patients. But at GiftHealth, we engage directly with patients and prescribers through about 4,000 calls a day. That level of interaction quickly reveals the real friction points they experience.

PC: How do you see the role of specialty pharmacy evolving over the next year based on the discussions and insights from Asembia 2025?

Parkinson: There’s a lot happening in specialty pharmacy right now. One major opportunity is to serve as the real-time connector between the patient, prescriber, and pharmacy. We've made progress over the past 15 years with near-real-time coordination, but now the focus is on enabling true real-time visibility. Giving patients and prescribers a clear view of how a prescription flows through the system is a big opportunity this year.

I also see significant potential in strengthening payer–pharmacy relationships. There’s been ongoing discussion about closer alignment between payers and specialty pharmacies to manage patient care in real time. Pharmacies that invest in the technology to become an extension of the payer’s care team will have a real advantage.

And of course, everyone is talking about AI. Specialty pharmacies are uniquely positioned to leverage AI to interrogate their data, uncover insights into the patient journey, and improve service delivery. Those that do it well will stand out in the market.

Full Interview Summary: As of today, Chip Parkinson has stepped into role of CEO at Gift Health. Reflecting on the transition, Parkinson notes that this position brings him closer to patients than at any previous point in his career. With a background spanning manufacturers, payers, and employer consulting, he now sees firsthand the daily barriers patients and prescribers face—citing the company’s volume of 4,000 daily calls and 400 chats as a window into the patient experience.

Looking ahead, Parkinson sees several evolving roles for specialty pharmacies. He highlights the opportunity to better connect prescribers, pharmacies, and patients in real time—not just through improved logistics but with greater transparency into the patient’s journey. He also points to closer collaboration between payers and pharmacies as a potential area of growth, particularly where technology allows specialty pharmacies to integrate more directly into the care team. Parkinson emphasizes that artificial intelligence could be key in analyzing complex patient data sets—such as pharmacy claims and utilization management policies—to uncover patterns and inefficiencies that currently limit access.

When asked about prescription access and affordability, Parkinson suggests that AI may help better identify systemic barriers, using migraine treatment as an example where data gaps contribute to delays in care. He also discusses the growing demand for weight-loss medications, projecting major increases in utilization. Gift Health, he says, is looking into targeted interventions in underserved regions and through employer partnerships to address access challenges more effectively.

For other healthcare leaders attending industry events, Parkinson encourages building relationships outside familiar networks. He stresses the value of engaging with those who may hold different perspectives, particularly in a rapidly changing environment where policy, drug availability, and access continue to shift.