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Washington State Health Care Authority to Launch Medication Therapy Management Initiative

Posted on: Thursday, 4 December 2008, 11:25 CST

Medication Pathfinder Network(TM) to Administer Program

BUFFALO, N.Y., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The Medication Pathfinder(TM) Network has been selected by The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) to administer a Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program for eligible enrollees of the Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) and the Aetna Public Employees Plan of Washington (APEPW). This innovative new program uses community pharmacists to review prescriptions with patients taking multiple medications, address questions, and identify potential drug interactions or other issues.

In the first phase of the project, community pharmacists throughout Washington State will provide face-to-face consultations to adult enrollees who are taking 10 or more unique prescription drugs. Approximately 8,500 and 10,000 enrollees in the two plans meet this criteria and will qualify for these services.

Participating pharmacists will receive payment from the plans for pre-visit planning, face-to-face consultations, and post-visit services they provide to enrollees. The program will also provide specially-designed software (MTMPath(TM)) with web-based protocols for pharmacists to use when they meet with patients.

"We are pleased to be selected by HCA for this important project," said James Notaro, Ph.D., RPh., president of Clinical Support Services, Inc., the parent company of The Medication Pathfinder Network. "Using pharmacists to provide consultative services increases convenience and patient access to care. It also can improve clinical health outcomes throughout HCA's patient population."

For the enrollees, participation is voluntary and will not affect the other benefits or services that they receive from the plans. HCA requires The Medication Pathfinder Network to follow strict procedures to keep health plan data and other patient information secure. The program complies with all state and federal privacy laws.

MTMPath is a proprietary, web-based software that gives pharmacists a clear and consistent process for collecting data, managing workflow, and making recommendations. Protocols used by the software follow nationally-recognized care guidelines and best practices. The technology helps pharmacists create standardized patient assessments and optimize patients' drug regimens.

Clinical Support Services, Inc., founded in 1999, is headquartered in Buffalo, New York. MTMPath is used by managed care organizations, ambulatory care pharmacies, colleges of pharmacy, and long-term care pharmacist consultants throughout the country.

For more information and contact CSS at 716/541-0273 or rachelwozniak@csshealth.com.

SOURCE Clinical Support Services, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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