APhA Applauds Inclusion Of Expanded Patient Access To Medication Therapy Management Services

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 11 Nov 2009 - 3:00 PST

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The American Pharmacist Association (APhA) applauds the House of Representatives for including critical patient care services in the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962). These services will improve the care of patients while reducing the costs of non-adherence and chronic illness to our health care system.

"From the beginning of Health Care Reform debate, APhA has focused on assuring Americans have access to pharmacists' services, in addition to drug coverage. H.R. 3962 recognizes that need." said Thomas E. Menighan, APhA Executive Vice President and CEO. "Regardless of how health care reform is financed or coverage is expanded, we must improve the quality of care and lower health care costs; and pharmacist-provided clinical services can help to achieve these goals."

While not perfect, APhA supports the bill's provisions that would expand and support patient access to pharmacist clinical services; help ensure patient access to needed medications and products; and provide support for pharmacy's infrastructure. These steps are all necessary to improve the quality of the nation's health care system.

The U.S. healthcare system currently incurs more than $177 billion annually in mostly avoidable health costs to treat adverse drug events from the inappropriate use of medications. In addition, the treatment of chronic disease costs our health system $1.3 trillion annually - about 75 cents of every healthcare dollar.

MTM services provided by pharmacists, working with physicians and other healthcare providers, improves therapeutic outcomes, reduces medication errors and adverse drug events, enhances coordination of care, improves patients' overall quality of life, and reduces overall healthcare costs.

By working collaboratively with physicians and other health care providers, pharmacists help patients better understand their medications and how to get the full benefit of their medication therapy. Pharmacists are the key to solving our medication use crisis. APhA looks forward to continuing to work with policymakers to ensure that patients have access to medications and pharmacists services.

Source
American Pharmacists Association