Medication therapy management is an empowering process for patients and care providers. Here’s how both sides can benefit.

Effectively managing a chronic condition such as high blood pressure or COPD can be a burden on many levels. The responsibility is compounded when someone suffers from multiple chronic complaints. This is when medication therapy management services (MTM services) provided by pharmacists can be of significant help.

MTM is impactful because it includes prescription reviews, record keeping, and any necessary lifestyle changes. The various aspects of it can be used as standalone solutions, but are usually used in tandem to provide more complete patient care. One of the most important areas it can help with is better handling of high prescription costs.

This guide will highlight the core elements of MTM, including how to put more cost-effective prescription management into action by finding discounted drug prices.

Medication therapy review

Successful medication therapy management starts with a medication therapy review.The healthcare provider will dig into:

Any medications or supplements the patient is currently taking

• At what dosage
• Which positive or negative effects are being experienced

This review can make a crucial positive difference if a patient is on multiple medications for multiple chronic diseases. Many Americans are affected by prescription errors annually – a problem costing over $40 billion a year.

This step is also a chance for the patient to ask providers any questions they might have about their prescriptions. Shared knowledge helps both sides perform as effectively as possible to promote better health and wellness. This could mean changing the medication schedule throughout the day, or switching to a cheaper medication to lower healthcare costs.

Personal medication record

This next step takes vital prescription information and collects it into a single document for patients and healthcare providers to review. It will:

• Include a current medication list (including supplements and over-the-counter meds) along with their doses
• Act as a memory aid for the patient, particularly if they see multiple health providers in the course of managing their prescriptions
• Keep all providers on the same page regarding treatment and use of medications
• Act as a good backup in case the healthcare provider’s files are damaged or lost

Should Provider A prescribe something, Provider B needs to know in detail what’s being taken and when to ensure it doesn’t impact what they prescribe. This helps avoid adverse reactions and medication-related problems for the patient.

It’s recommended that patients bring their personal medication record to every appointment they have to increase communication and avoid confusion. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers an excellent blank template that can be downloaded and completed. It covers every important category of information to help keep patients and providers on the same page regarding treatment and the patient’s medications.

Medication-related action plan

A further result of the above steps is that the patient receives support and coaching from their care team on how to proceed with their medical regimen and manage their health conditions. Some adjustment to the patient’s current lifestyle and habits may be necessary, and requires the creation of an action plan.

Here are a few facts:

• Creating an action plan is solely the healthcare provider’s responsibility, but initiating it is up to the patient.
• The action plan will be written down – just like the individual patient’s personal medication record – with both parties keeping a copy.
• The plan will contain details like alterations to previous medication dosages and scheduling.
• It will also include a note of everything the care provider and patient discussed at the most recent session.

There should also be space on the document for the patient to fill out what they did to show they’re adhering to the plan. Medication adherence is crucial in order for patients to achieve the best therapeutic outcomes. Health care is dynamic, so a pharmacist may write up multiple action plans per year. Check out this example to see what an action plan looks like.

Intervention or referral

A medication therapy management program can often be carried out with only the patient and the pharmacy practice interacting, but it may be necessary to involve a physician or other care provider in the care management. This is typically a quick process designed to get the third party’s approval on any alterations to the patient’s medication regimen that the pharmacist thinks are necessary. The pharmacist’s recommendation will either be approved or denied, which may lead to secondary appointments with the primary caregiver.

Documentation and follow-up

Medication therapy management documentation consists partly of dual copies of all personal medication records and medication action plans. Further documentation can include transcripts of conversations between the patient and pharmacist and/or the pharmacist and any third parties.

Follow-ups are usually required to review how effectively the patient is executing their plan and to help multiple care providers keep up with each other’s recommendations. It’s a good idea for any patient to independently schedule a follow-up the moment they notice any adverse reactions to a medication or when it becomes financially difficult to stick to the planned schedule and dosages.

The latter problem is sadly very common in the U.S. health system. Millions of Americans can’t afford their prescriptions, and many others are forced to skip doses to make the medication they can afford stretch as far as possible. Neither scenario is fair, which is why ModRN Health is devoted to making more affordable prescriptions a reality.

How ModRN Health can make taking action more affordable

ModRN Health can help reduce financial stress by finding the cheapest prices for the medications you need at the locations nearest to you. Our service provides access to many resources on medical conditions, medications, and potential side effects so you can learn more about your medical situation, successfully manage your conditions and follow your prescription drug plans.

Making us your prescription partner also provides easy access to your prescription history to make record keeping even simpler. ModRN Health may be able save you up to 80 percent on your current prescription expenses, too, and you can earn redeemable reward points for every prescription you fill with us.

Open a free account today to learn more about how ModRN Health can help you look after your body and your budget.