Incorporating MTMS in Medicare Part D

Officials of Community Care Rx(CCRx) have announced that it will beimplementing community pharmacistMedication Therapy Management Services(MTMS) for qualified participantsin its 2006 Part D Medicare PrescriptionDrug Plan. As part of the program,pharmacists not only will deliver qualityhealth care, but also will serve in animportant role: as financial advisers totheir patients regarding drug benefits.

"Through MTMS, pharmacists canadvise patients on strategies to maintaina high quality of pharmaceuticalhealth care, while potentially reducingbeneficiaries' out-of-pocket expenses.This expanded role, in which communitypharmacists offer clinical counselingas well as financial strategies regardingcost-effective and high-qualitypharmaceutical care, will be a great value-added service to Medicare beneficiaries,who often have multiple chronicmedical conditions and are taking severalmedications," said Bruce Roberts,RPh, chairman of the board of CCRx.