Provider Status
| Collaborative Drug Therapy Management Policy 9903 11/01/1999 Introduced 03/01/2004 Reapproved 12/01/2008 Reapproved 06/01/2011 Revised 10/01/2012 Reapproved 10/18/2021 Revised | AMCP supports the concept of collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) a formal partnership between a pharmacist and a prescriber that allows the pharmacist to manage a patient’s drug therapy. CDTM, also referred to as collaborative practice, allows pharmacists to use their unique skills and abilities to complement other types of care provided by collaborating professionals to optimize patient outcomes. When pharmacists practice under CDTM agreements, health care services and outcomes are optimized when compared with settings where pharmacists were not involved. (See AMCP Managed Care Pharmacy Practice Positions -Collaborative Drug Therapy Management). |
Disease Management 11/01/1999 Introduced | AMCP supports disease management as the concept of reducing health care costs, closing gaps in care, and improving quality of life for individuals with chronic conditions by preventing or minimizing the effects of the disease through integrated medical and pharmacy management. Disease management programs are designed to improve health outcomes and reduce associated costs from avoidable complications and medication adverse events by identifying and treating chronic conditions more quickly and effectively, and improving appropriate medication use and adherence, thus slowing the progression of those diseases. AMCP recognizes that, as a trained medication management specialist, the pharmacist has clinical expertise and a leadership role to play in the collaborative development, implementation and improvement of disease management programs. (See AMCP Concepts in Managed Care Pharmacy – Disease Management) |
| Pharmacist's Role in Immunizations Policy 9923 11/01/1999 Introduced 03/01/2001 Revised 02/01/2006 Reapproved 10/01/2010 Reapproved 07/21/2021 Revised | AMCP recognizes that pharmacists have a responsibility to the public and to individual patients to promote disease prevention through patient assessment and administration of appropriate immunization to all patients and age groups, especially those at risk. AMCP supports federal and state legislative and regulatory provisions that give pharmacists and qualified staff under the supervision of a pharmacist, in accordance with state law, the authority to administer immunizations. Further, AMCP affirms that schools and colleges of pharmacy should include education and training concerning patient assessment, promotion, and administration of immunizations in their curricula. |
Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines
| AMCP advocates direct involvement of pharmacists in the development, evaluation, and implementation of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines that focus on an interdisciplinary team approach to patient care. |
| Health Care Team Approach to Optimal Therapeutic Outcomes Policy 0014 02/01/2000 Introduced 02/01/2005 Reapproved 02/01/2010 Reapproved 04/07/2015 Revised | AMCP believes that achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes for each patient is a shared responsibility of the health care team. AMCP further supports the active role of the pharmacist in the development, implementation and monitoring of therapeutic plans, which include provider communication and assisting patients to become informed decision makers to improve adherence with their prescribed therapeutic plan. |
| Pharmacist-Patient Communication Policy 0020 02/01/2000 Introduced 02/01/2005 Revised 02/01/2010 Reapproved 04/07/2015 Revised | AMCP recognizes that patient education is a fundamental element of pharmaceutical care. Further, AMCP believes that pharmacists have a professional obligation to provide patients with accurate, understandable information to promote safe and effective medication use. In order to deliver information that will foster positive health care outcomes, pharmacists must recognize the unique needs of each individual patient or patient population. Therefore, the pharmacist must exercise professional judgment in determining the best way to deliver essential patient information: verbally, in writing, electronically, through use of pictographs or through the internet or through a caregiver or guardian. When face-to-face pharmacist-patient communication is appropriate, pharmacy facilities must allow for convenient, comfortable, and private conversation, supplemented by written, printed, or other material that is best suited to the patient's specific needs. These principles also apply to virtual pharmacist-patient communication, where applicable. |
| Pharmacy CPT Codes Policy 0022 02/01/2000 Introduced 02/01/2005 Reapproved 11/01/2009 Reapproved 02/01/2014 Reapproved 04/29/2020 Revised | AMCP supports the use and expansion of pharmacy-specific codes listed in the American Medical Association's Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding structure to assist pharmacists in documenting professional services as health care providers. |
Promotion and Certification of Pharmacy-Based Health Management Programs Policy 0025 02/01/2000 Introduced | AMCP supports legislation and regulation promoting pharmacy-based health management programs, such as health screenings and immunizations, and additionally, health status monitoring through pharmacist ordering and interpretation of laboratory tests as they may relate to the usage, dosing and administration of drugs. AMCP further supports the completion of a comprehensive instruction program within pharmacy curricula or a post-graduate certificate program to ensure pharmacists are appropriately credentialed to perform such services. |
| State Pharmacy Practice Act Revisions Policy 0026 02/01/2000 Introduced 02/01/2005 Reapproved 11/01/2009 Reapproved 10/18/2021 Revised | AMCP recommends enactment of state pharmacy practice act revisions enabling pharmacists to practice as health care providers and essential members of the patient care team. |
| Medication Use Outside of the Home Policy 0105 03/01/2001 Introduced 02/01/2006 Revised 12/01/2010 Revised 04/07/2015 Reapproved | AMCP recognizes the role of pharmacists in improving the safe and appropriate use and storage of medications in all environments. Institutions, such as hospitals and long-term care facilities, have regulations and requirements for administration and storage of medications. However, many entities like schools, camp, and group homes, do not have regulations or requirements regarding the handling of medications in their facilities. AMCP recommends that pharmacists be actively involved in the development of procedures for safe and appropriate medication use and storage by working with parents and appropriate personnel at schools, camps and group homes to improve medication use policies and procedures within their specific environment. |
Pharmacy Benefits for the Uninsured/Underinsured
| AMCP supports the appropriate access to medications and the development of integrated systems to ensure access to enhanced pharmacy services and pharmaceutical products for all patients, regardless of insurance coverage or income. |
Pharmacists’ Role in Promoting Lifestyle Modifications to Improve Health Outcomes
| AMCP believes that patient lifestyle choices play a significant role in the success or failure of treatment regimens. Patients who make positive lifestyle choices have a greater probability of reaching treatment goals (e.g. smoking cessation for patients with COPD; diet and exercise for patients with diabetes). Pharmacists in all practice settings should educate patients to pursue recommended lifestyle modifications as part of their prescribed treatment regimen, in order for patients to achieve the best possible health outcome. |
Health Care Services Provided by a Pharmacist
| AMCP believes that the pharmacist, as the medication management professional, has the training and expertise to provide health care-related services that improve patient outcomes and reduce health care costs. AMCP encourages pharmacists to lead collaborative efforts in the development and implementation of care plans and participate in collaborative practice agreements. AMCP supports appropriate compensation for health care services provided by pharmacists that demonstrate value to practitioners, patients and payers.
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Provider Status for Pharmacists
06/01/2013 Introduced | The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) supports the recognition of pharmacists as providers under the Social Security Act. Pharmacists provide measurable improvements in healthcare outcomes and patient satisfaction and reduce overall healthcare expenditures. AMCP strongly believes the formal recognition of pharmacists as health care providers will increase their contribution to address primary healthcare needs, including medication administration, as part of collaborative healthcare with fewer barriers.
(See AMCP Managed Care Pharmacy Practice Positions - Provider Status for Pharmacists) |
Transitions of Care
Policy 2002
11/17/2020 Introduced | Transition of care is the movement of patients from one health care practitioner or setting to another as their condition and care needs change. It occurs 1) within settings, such as primary care and specialty care in the context of care in the community, 2) between settings, such as someone who moves from the hospital to the rehabilitation facility, and it occurs 3) based on health status, such as moving from curative to palliative care. AMCP supports the role of pharmacists in ensuring the continuity of a patient’s medication therapy regimen when moving among these diverse health care settings. Pharmacists analyze and communicate information about the safety, effectiveness and outcomes of drug therapy to other health care providers to ensure appropriate continuity of drug therapy. Additionally, pharmacists serve the needs of patients and caregivers by providing consultation that helps them understand their medication, the dosing and possible side effects while encouraging adherence as the patient moves from one setting to another. |
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