Sebelius concurs with pharmacy’s principles
HHS secretary showcases Obama administration’s support of MTM
in letter to pharmacy coalition.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius has
responded favorably to pharmacy’s call to keep in mind the
“full benefits of medications and medication counseling”
during the health care reform process.
On August 5, Sebelius penned an unequivocally positive thank-you
letter to National Conference of Pharmaceutical Organizations member
and NACDS CEO Steven Anderson, who had sent her a copy of the
principles. In the letter, Sebelius assured the Conference that
President Obama’s current health care reform efforts, as well as
the administration’s ongoing management of Medicare, would provide
an ideal platform for improved “access to medication therapy and
counseling on the use of medications.”
“Better coordination of care, including the appropriate use of
medication,” she continued, “is critical to the well-being
of every American and to increasing the value obtained from the health
care system.” Sebelius referenced the administration’s
Medicare demonstration authority, which tests “new payment
mechanisms that … provide incentives to better coordinate care as
well as new models of care such as the medical home.”
The letter also reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to
ensuring that Medicare Part D beneficiaries receive needed drug
therapies via monitoring of the program and the funding of research
efforts “to find ways of enhancing [the administration’s]
regulation of medication therapy management programs.”
The Conference had forwarded a statement, “From
Reform to Revolution: Maximizing the Power of Proper Medication Use in
Patient Care,” to the Secretary. It reflects a cohesive voice
for associations in the pharmaceutical and pharmacy value chain. NCPO
serves as a forum for the leadership of the American Association of
Colleges of Pharmacy, APhA, American Society of Health-System
Pharmacists, Consumer Healthcare Products Association, Generic
Pharmaceutical Association, Healthcare Distribution Management
Association, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National
Association of Boards of Pharmacy, National Community Pharmacists
Association, and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of
America.
Related resources on www.pharmacist.com
Related resources on the Web:
Beth Farnstrom, (bfarnstrom)
Posted August 31, 2009, 2:30 PM EDT
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