APhA supports CMS efforts to enhance medication-therapy management benefits

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) released a statement last week applauding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) efforts to improve Medicare medication therapy management (MTM) benefits.

CMS recently unveiled a new MTM initiative aimed at evaluating the efficacy of offering prescription drug plans certain incentives to help achieve MTM program goals.

“APhA supports the new initiative announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to improve the medication therapy management benefit for patients in stand-alone Medicare Part D plans,” APhA Executive Vice President and CEO Thomas Menighan said. “We applaud CMS for continuing to recognize the value of MTM to patients and to the Medicare program, and for seeking ways to improve its overall impact. It is clear through the establishment of this initiative that CMS understands the benefits of MTM, including optimizing medication use, improving public health, and reducing health care costs. The research shows that medication-related problems are a significant issue for many Americans, particularly seniors who use multiple prescriptions for health conditions.”

Menighan said APhA and its members have been vocal, long-term advocates for improving medication use.

“Finding creative solutions to make Medicare Part D MTM more robust and more effective has been one of APhA's core goals in recent years,” Menighan said. “CMS' announcement promotes many of the strategies APhA has long advocated for, including better integrating MTM into patients’ overall health care. CMS’ initiative also aligns with the movement to value-based health care design."