Expanding behavioral health pharmacy services through the Geisinger–Acadia Partnership
Author: Brian Simpkins
In 2023, Geisinger and Acadia Healthcare launched a joint venture to expand behavioral health services across the Geisinger service region. The partnership began with the opening of Geisinger Behavioral Health Northeast in Moosic, Pa., followed by the launch of a second facility in Danville in August 2025.
These facilities represent a coordinated effort to enhance access to behavioral health care while integrating pharmacy services into the broader continuum of treatment.
Over the past year, the Moosic facility has undergone significant expansion. All 96 inpatient beds are now operational, and planning is underway to introduce pediatric services and electroconvulsive therapy.
Pharmacy services have grown in parallel, with the team expanding from one to three pharmacists. These pharmacists provide inpatient support and lead outpatient Medication Therapy Disease Management services, particularly for patients receiving long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs).
The LAI program is designed to allow continuity of care for patients requiring scheduled injections. Pharmacists coordinate appointments, monitor medication histories and manage adherence. Although regulations limit pharmacist administration of LAIs, the team plays a central role in ensuring timely delivery and rescheduling when necessary. Coordination with Geisinger Specialty Pharmacy and other insurancedesignated providers means patients receive their medications without disruption.
Pharmacists at the Moosic facility operate in a multidisciplinary rounding model, supporting 4 behavioral health teams.
Their responsibilities include medication management for psychiatric conditions as well as oversight of chronic disease treatment, such as hypertension, diabetes,
and heart failure. This integrated approach leads to comprehensive inpatient care.
A distinctive feature of the pharmacy program is the implementation of medication group therapy sessions. These sessions are conducted in group and individual formats, depending on patient needs. Pharmacists provide education on medication regimens, address adherence challenges and answer questions related to side effects and treatment expectations. Family involvement is encouraged, with pharmacists facilitating sessions either in person or virtually to support shared understanding and engagement.
To support safe and efficient transitions of care, the facility has implemented a remote bedside medication delivery service.
Pharmacists coordinate discharge medication reconciliation in advance, working closely with the retail pharmacy team at Mount Pleasant. Medications are delivered directly to patients or nursing stations, depending on discharge plans. The secure delivery model improves compliance with facility protocols while enhancing patient satisfaction. The absence of unplanned discharges allows for deliberate planning and reliable execution of this service, which has been recognized as a key differentiator by joint venture partners.
Looking ahead, the pharmacy services developed at Moosic will be replicated and expanded at the Danville facility. The Geisinger– Acadia partnership continues to evolve, with pharmacy services playing a central role in advancing patient care. The integration of clinical expertise, operational planning and patient-centered services positions the behavioral health facilities as models for collaborative, high-quality care delivery.
These enhancements reflect a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in behavioral health pharmacy practice.
