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.
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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 Concepts in Managed Care Pharmacy – Disease Management)
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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
| 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. |
| 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.
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| 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
| 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. |
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. |
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
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. |
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)
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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)
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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 Managed Care Pharmacy Practice Positions - 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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