Inventory Management

Pharmacy technicians have many duties and responsibilities within a pharmacy practice setting. Two of the most common duties include inventory management and processing of third-party insurance billing claims.

The importance of these two tasks is quite clear: The pharmacy cannot dispense prescriptions if the proper medications are not in stock, and the pharmacy must be reimbursed by insurance carriers in a timely fashion if the pharmacy is to operate. Both inventory management and insurance billing require specific knowledge and training.

After completing this resource, learners will be able to:

• Describe the various purchasing systems used in pharmacies
• Describe the various methods of purchasing available to pharmacies
• Outline the steps necessary for placing orders
• Outline the steps necessary for receiving orders
• Explain the reasons for product returns and the process of making returns