The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
(ASCP) recently addressed medication therapy management
services (MTMS) in long-term care. MTMS programs
are expected to (1) optimize therapeutic outcomes
through improved medication use; (2) reduce the
risk of adverse events, including adverse drug interactions;
(3) be conducted by a pharmacist or other qualified
health care provider; and (4) differentiate between services
in ambulatory and institutional settings.
In its policy statement, ASCP highlighted the following
points:
- ASCP advocates that Part D sponsors provide flexibility in the MTMS
offered to patients of long-term care facilities and that these services
mirror the unique differences in these residents and settings
- The MTMS program should mainly focus on optimizing therapeutic
outcomes and reducing adverse drug events for the beneficiary, and
secondarily focus on reductions of drug costs when necessary
- Pharmacists who provide MTMS to long-term care facility residents
should have expertise in geriatric drug therapy
- MTMS recommendations received by the administrator, prescriber,
pharmacy provider, or caregiver/resident are best reconciled by the
facility's consultant pharmacist