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Get involved in therapy management

Pharmacy Regulation Resource, May 26, 2004

Clinical pharmacists in specialized practices should encourage their groups to get involved in a three-year Medicare therapy management pilot project.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began seeking proposals April 23 for participation in the pilot Voluntary Chronic Care Improvement Program, which aims to help Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic illnesses-including diabetes and congestive heart failure-to manage their conditions.

Pharmacists have the expertise and knowledge to help patients with multiple chronic illnesses to manage their medications and get the most effective treatment, says Gary Stein, PhD, director of federal regulatory affairs for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

Individual pharmacists will not be able to participate in the program, Stein says. Pharmacists in group practices such as anticoagulation or asthma clinics should encourage their practices to get involved, he says.

Those pharmacists would be able to help patients manage their medications and maximize their treatment benefits, Stein says.

CMS has not said how it will reimburse pharmacists for their medication therapy management services, Stein says. Pharmacists will use the money to compensate themselves for their time with patients.

For more information or to download a proposal, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicarereform/ccip/. The application deadline is August 6.

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