New medication therapy management model debuts

The American Pharmacists Association and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores have developed a model to help community pharmacists scratching their heads over how to implement the profession's concept du jour-medication therapy management (MTM).

The new APhA-NACDS model identifies core elements of MTM, while providing pharmacists flexibility to deliver services. The project's aim is to especially help pharmacists planning to provide MTM services under the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit beginning Jan. 1. Prescription drug plan sponsors must offer such services to Medicare recipients who have multiple chronic diseases, take multiple drugs, and run up high medication costs.

The model identifies five core elements pharmacists can use when developing their MTM services:

Community pharmacists will be offered educational tools to help them incorporate the model into their pharmacy's MTM services. The tools offered by APhA and the NACDS Foundation will include an operations manual with detailed instructions, forms, and MTM practice guidelines. An educational conference is scheduled for June 23-24 in Washington, D.C., for pharmacy owners, pharmacists, and other stakeholders, including prescription drug plan sponsors. For details, go to http://www.nacdsfoundation.org/.