While pharmacists have long been delivering personalized clinical patient services, recognition of pharmacists as health care providers, realization of the value of pharmacist cognitive services, and fair payment for pharmacists have been slow to evolve. This article tracks the evolution of medication therapy management (MTM) services provided by pharmacists, using the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 as a springboard. The core elements of MTM services are discussed and reviewed, and MTM programs and services as outlined in the Medicare Part D outpatient prescription drug benefit are thoroughly examined. Pharmacist and patient perceptions of the value of MTM are outlined, and barriers to MTM implementation at the pharmacy/pharmacist level are evaluated. Key studies showing the economic and clinical benefits of MTM services are discussed, as well as important drivers that may propel MTM beyond the Medicare Part D threshold.

No abstract

The medication regimen review is considered the core activity of the consultant pharmacist. This article, the first in a series of three, will provide an introduction and overview of the medication regimen review. Goals of the MRR will be presented, along with a discussion of the different types of MRR. The importance of focusing on the values, priorities, and goals of each individual patient is emphasized. Other articles in this series will provide more specifics about the medication regimen review process.

Drug therapy is one of a variety of tools used by clinicians to manage symptoms and diseases in patients. To understand the medication regimen review process, it is important to understand the big picture of patient care and how medications fit into this overall scheme. The framework for patient management is known as "the care process."

No abstract