Medicare and Medicaid patients with a chronic condition will be able to review all their medications in one-on-one sessions with pharmacists under a bill introduced Tuesday by Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.). The Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Expanded Benefits Act would also reimburse pharmacists to follow up and educate patients about their medication regimen.
"This bill will allow seniors with one chronic condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, to bring all of their medications to the pharmacy and ensure they are following doctor's orders," Hagan said in a statement. "If more seniors properly follow their medication regimens, we can save lives and Medicare dollars."
Currently 12.9 percent of seniors in the Medicare prescription drug program — all of whom have multiple chronic illnesses — are eligible to participate in MTM programs. Hagan's bill would allow seniors with only one chronic illness to participate in the program at pharmacies, hospitals and other entities that distribute pharmaceutical drugs and provide MTM services.
