Julie M. Urmie

Dr. Julie M. Urmie is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. She holds a B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed by an M.S. in Pharmacy Administration and a Ph.D. in Social and Administrative Sciences in Pharmacy from the same institution. Her research focuses on Medicare Part D, pharmacy reimbursement systems, and the impact of prescription drug benefit designs on patient medication adherence and healthcare utilization.

Dr. Urmie’s teaching expertise includes healthcare financing systems, health policy, and prescription drug pricing strategies. Her work explores how insurance policies and reimbursement structures influence patient access to medications, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable populations like Medicare beneficiaries and Medicaid coverage gap patients.

Her research publications span topics such as pharmacy-led Medicare Part D consultation services, cost-sharing effects on specialty drug use, and the role of pharmacists in collaborative healthcare models. She has been recognized as a High Performing Peer Reviewer by the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy.

Dr. Urmie’s studies often combine qualitative and quantitative methods, including discrete choice experiments, systematic reviews, and stakeholder interviews. Her work highlights systemic challenges in healthcare access and advocates for policy reforms to improve medication affordability and equitable reimbursement practices.

Notably, she has examined the financial sustainability of independent pharmacies under Medicare Part D and Medicaid managed care systems, emphasizing the need for equitable reimbursement policies. Her recent projects include evaluating the impact of Medicare drug price negotiation programs and analyzing patient preferences for community pharmacy services.