Pharmacist.com | Resources for pharmacists

›› Merged Senate bill includes MTM, other key pharmacy provisions – Pharmacists required in medical homes, transitional care activities.

›› Senate considers HCR options – If trimmed-down bill is pursued, fate of MTM provisions could depend on comprehensiveness of final bill.

›› House includes MTM in final HCR bill – On day of decision, pharmacy and pharmacists figured prominently in vote.

›› MTM still in as House vote looms – APhA watching pharmacy-related amendments to HCR bill, including ones on reimportation of medications, HSAs.

›› Making of a medical home: Pharmacists on the inside – Providing MTM as part of health care team.

›› Pelosi, House Democrats introduce final HCR bill—including MTM – Affordable Health Care for America Act blends previous House bills; expected to reach House floor late next week.

›› DMEPOS accreditation deadline extended to January 1 – Next steps outlined for pharmacies as Congress considers permanent fix as part of health care reform legislation.

›› Five for five: MTM survives in all HCR bills – Senate Finance Committee approves legislation in barely bipartisan vote; action now moves to merger of various bills for floor votes.

›› Pharmacists key to reform of health care, speakers say – Primary care roles, drug expert on health care team, improved adherence—contributions will be many.

›› Multimedia tutorials explain basics of HCR, Medicare – KaiserEdu.org offers in-depth slide tutorials explaining the health care reform process and the ins and outs of Medicare.

›› Better care, prescription drugs: Obama outlines HCR detail – Public option, malpractice reform components of President’s pitch to Congress.

›› Sebelius concurs with pharmacy’s principles – HHS secretary showcases Obama administration’s support of MTM in letter to pharmacy coalition.

›› HCR: What happens now? – APhA pushing on MTM while maintaining neutrality on overarching, controversial aspects of bills.

›› Asheville Project is model for nation, Rep. Shuler says in TV interview – Practice model reduces costs while improving health and wellness, North Carolina Democrat explains.

›› House committee adds MTM to reform bill – Bipartisan support comes as Congress packs for August recess; sets stage for pharmacists’ advocacy efforts while Members are home.

›› AMA endorses, two House committees pass HCR legislation – Late-week activity puts Congress on track for votes before August recess.

›› MTM faring well in Congressional action – Senate committee passes HCR bill in party-line vote; House panel mark-up today.

›› Looking for dollars: Hospitals offer cost reductions as Democrats debate – Questions, differences of opinion about financing of health care reform slows process.

›› $30 Billion: Pharmacists quantify MTM economic benefits at White House session – Menighan, Ellis, Herbert Thomas participate in primary care session with DeParle.

›› Ellis: Chronic disease a ‘threat to America’s global competitiveness’ – Foundation’s CEO joins with NCL, ACP Foundation, Aetna, and Verizon for briefing on Capitol Hill.

›› Public option for HCR the linchpin of cost containment, experts say – Robert Reich, Jacob Hacker argue for public health insurance plan to control costs.

›› Health care reform bill introduced in House – But trillion-dollar estimates slows progress in Senate.

›› Obama cites pharmacists in push for coordinated care – In AMA speech, President says multidisciplinary health team with med expert provide examples of “outstanding medicine.”

›› Pharmacist-delivered MTM in HELP draft bill – Health reform language includes medical home, MTM grants that would fund analyses of innovative care models.

›› Chronic disease care: Collaborative – Care coordination essential to chronic disease management, PFCD briefing panel says.

›› MTM on a roll – Debating ways of reducing costs and providing better care, reformists point in one direction—toward medication therapy management.

›› White House makes its economic case for health care reform – Expanded workforce operating at higher efficiency cited in Council of Economic Advisors report.

›› Congressional caucus focuses on quality in HCR discussion – Think-tank speakers, provider representative offer perspectives on models that increase quality, lower costs.

›› Blue Dogs release HCR principles – Moderate conservative coalition in House release principles addressing rising costs, promoting bipartisanship, fiscal responsibility.

›› HCR a matter of ‘show me the money’ – Millions of lives, billions of dollars at stake in debate.