Medication Therapy Management

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

Policy 9907

11/01/1999 Introduced
03/01/2004 Reapproved
12/01/2008 Revised
10/01/2012 Revised
02/21/2018 Revised

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)

 

Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines

Policy 0007

02/01/2000 Introduced
02/01/2005 Reapproved
11/01/2009 Reapproved
02/21/2018 Revised

 

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.
Pharmacogenomics

Policy 0107

03/01/2001 Introduced
11/01/2005 Reapproved
11/01/2009 Revised
02/01/2014 Revised
02/21/2018 Revised
AMCP supports further research and assessment of the economic, clinical, and humanistic impact of pharmacogenomics on managed care pharmacy practice. AMCP supports the pharmacist's leadership role in the review and evaluation of scientific evidence and the subsequent development of pharmaceutical care processes involving these therapies through collaboration with other health care practitioners and consumer organizations. Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committees in collaboration with Health Technology Assessment committees should be involved in the decision-making process related to coverage of genetic tests and utilization management strategies. 

Pharmacy Benefits for the Uninsured/Underinsured

Policy 0118

11/01/2001 Introduced
02/01/2006 Revised
12/01/2010 Reapproved
03/25/2019 Revised
10/16/2023 Revised

 

AMCP supports the equitable access to medications and the development of integrated systems that optimize public and private programs such as 340B, Patient Assistance Programs (PAP) and charitable medication distributors to ensure access to enhanced pharmacy services and pharmaceutical products for all patients, regardless of insurance coverage or income. In addition, AMCP encourages innovations that provide affordable medication access such as comparing a PBM's network price, access to discounted drug retailers and point of care eligibility for PAP.

Pharmacists’ Role in Promoting Lifestyle Modifications to Improve Health Outcomes

Policy 0502

02/01/2005 Introduced
02/01/2010 Reapproved
04/07/2015 Revised
02/21/2021 Reapproved

 

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.

Provider Status for Pharmacists

Policy 1201

 

06/01/2013 Introduced
03/27/2017 Revised
07/19/2018 Revised
10/22/2018 Revised

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)

 

Medicare Part D Quality Measures

 

Policy 1403

 

10/07/2014 Introduced

The Academy recognizes the essential role of pharmacists and plans in improving the quality of care provided to patients and supports a measure development process which allows for timely integration of evidence-based medicine and feedback from stakeholders.  AMCP additionally emphasizes the need to align measures across programs to promote consistency, economic efficiency, and quality across the health care system.

 

(See AMCP Future of Medicare Part D Statement – Medicare Part D Quality Measures)

 

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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