A new law in Pennsylvania will allow more patients to collaborate with pharmacists on their medication programs, which is expected to improve health and save money.
The law will allow for collaborative drug therapy management between physicians and pharmacists in the community setting. Previously, such collaboration was permitted only in institutional settings like hospitals and nursing homes.
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, which lobbied for the legislation, praised the efforts of the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association in getting the measure passed into law.
Pennsylvania State Rep. Deberah L. Kula sponsored the legislation, H.B. 1041. The state's Senate and House of Representatives passed the bill in May, and Gov. Edward G. Rendell signed it into law on June 1.
“With the enactment of this legislation, Pennsylvania has said ‘yes’ to improving the health and lives of patients, and to reducing overall healthcare costs," said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson. “This new law recognizes the expertise of pharmacists, the accessibility of (the) community pharmacy and the ability of pharmacists to help patients properly manage their health conditions for the well-being of patients and for the good of society.”
Collaborative drug therapy management builds on the concept of medication therapy management, which involves consultations between patients and pharmacists designed to ensure the right medications are taken correctly to improve health outcomes and help prevent adverse events such as harmful drug interactions.
A July 2009 report by the New England Health Institute estimated that the overall cost of poor medication adherence, measured in otherwise avoidable medical spending, is as much as $290 billion per year, or 13 percent of total healthcare expenditures.
Other studies have shown that increased use of pharmacy-patient consultations on medications can reduce healthcare costs. For example, a study of MTM through Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota found reductions in healthcare costs per person of 31.5 percent, from $11,965 to $8,197.
Pennsylvania is the 33rd state to allow collaborative drug therapy management in the community setting. Nine states allow it in institutional settings only, and eight do not allow it at all.