Collaborative Practice
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)
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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 Managed Care Pharmacy Practice Positions – Disease Management)
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Formularies Policy 9910 11/01/1999 Introduced 02/01/2005 Revised 02/01/2010 Reapproved 02/08/2017 Revised 04/23/2018 Revised 03/25/2019 Revised | AMCP supports the use of appropriately designed formularies as quality-enhancing, cost-effective pharmaceutical care tools that meet the needs of the patient population and assist members of the health care team in effectively managing a patient's total medical care regimen. Formulary coverage decisions are based primarily on sound clinical evidence. Cost should be considered only after safety, efficacy and therapeutic need have been assessed. The value of a formulary is maximized when it is part of an integrated patient care process and integrates with other health care management tools, such as drug utilization review and medical treatment guidelines. The overall formulary system encourages physicians, pharmacists, and other care givers to work together to ensure positive outcomes and cost-effective results. (See AMCP Managed Care Pharmacy Practice Positions - Formularies, and AMCP Concepts in Managed Care Pharmacy - Formulary 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Pharmacogenomics
| 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 | 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.
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Continuous Quality Improvement
| AMCP supports development and implementation of continuous quality improvement programs throughout the medication use process, and encourages all practitioners to establish performance improvement processes in their various practice settings. |
Utilization Management Policy 0401 02/01/2004 Introduced 12/01/2008 Reapproved 10/01/2012 Revised 02/08/2017 Revised | AMCP supports the role of utilization management in the provision of quality, cost-effective prescription drug benefits. The fundamental goal of utilization management is to promote the appropriate and cost-effective use of medications. Pharmacists in all practice settings must work collaboratively to develop specific policies and procedures to ensure that the utilization management process is administered in the most efficient manner possible, is fully compliant with statutory and regulatory requirements and provides members, pharmacists and prescribers with an evidence-based, rational process to promote appropriate drug use. Examples of utilization management strategies used within a prescription drug benefit include prior authorization, step therapy, quantity management, drug utilization review (DUR), site of service steerage, and the formulary exception process. (See AMCP Concepts in Managed Care Pharmacy – Prior Authorization)
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Health Care Services Provided by a Pharmacist
(Prior to 7/29/14 revision, titled: Compensation for Pharmaceutical Care Services) Policy 0601
| 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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Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Programs Policy 0906 06/01/2009 Introduced 02/01/2014 Revised 04/12/2021 Revised | AMCP recommends that medication therapy management (MTM) programs, including comprehensive medication reviews, be designed based on the needs of identified populations of a plan and delivered through different modalities including face-to-face and via the use of technology. These programs utilize appropriate patient selection criteria and interventions to meet both social and health related needs of the individual members and optimize medication use. Emphasis should be placed on coordination of care for the patient, and integration of MTM programs, disease management and medical management programs, when possible, to effectuate enhanced patient outcomes. MTM programs should identify appropriate outcomes and design measurements to assess the outcomes and maintain appropriate documentation and results. MTM programs should be evaluated and revised on a continuing basis to ensure that quality and value are maintained.
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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) |
Therapeutic Interchange Policy 9928 11/01/1999 Introduced 03/01/2004 Reapproved 12/01/2008 Reapproved 10/01/2012 Revised 03/25/2019 Revised | AMCP supports the use of evidence-based therapeutic interchange programs as a part of a comprehensive approach to quality, cost-effective patient care. AMCP believes that therapeutic interchange may improve the patient's access to more affordable health care and represents an efficient use of pharmaceutical resources that helps keep medical costs down. The therapeutic interchange programs are designed to work in conjunction with other tools that health care professionals use to promote quality medical outcomes and increase affordability to patients and payers. Therapeutic interchange is not always about simply lowering the medication costs; however, therapeutic interchange frequently occurs when overall health care savings can be achieved. There are instances where replacing one drug with a more costly drug may result in fewer treatment failures, better patient adherence to the treatment plan, fewer side effects, and improved clinical outcomes, which could result in lower overall health care spending. (See AMCP Managed Care Pharmacy Practice Positions – Therapeutic Interchange). |
Emergency Response Policy 0303 11/01/2003 Introduced 02/01/2008 Revised 10/01/2012 Revised 10/28/2022 Revised | AMCP recognizes that pharmacists, as medication management experts, play a vital role in maintaining and promoting public health, especially during a public emergency. Therefore, AMCP supports pharmacists practicing at or above the full scope of their license during a national emergency through the continued efforts of the state boards of pharmacy, state and federal governments, and military agencies. AMCP also encourages pharmacists to participate in National Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and serve on local units of Medical Reserve Corp to respond to national and local emergencies. |
Medication Synchronization
Policy 1501
02/10/2015 Introduced | The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) supports the concept of medication synchronization as one tool that may improve adherence. Prescription drug therapy provides a tremendous value to the overall healthcare system and that value is only realized when medication therapies are taken by patients as prescribed. AMCP supports continued industry development and rollout of medication synchronization programs and believes that best practices currently being developed will benefit patients and payers. Therefore AMCP will oppose legislation that mandates medication synchronization and requires a specific government framework as an unnecessary barrier to best practices.
(See AMCP Where We Stand Position Statement – Medication Synchronization.) |
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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