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NACDS to Senate: Pharmacists can help with chronic illness

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ARLINGTON, Va. — Pharmacies can provide accessible, cost-effective preventive health services that can improve care for Medicare patients with chronic conditions, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores told a Senate committee.

NACDS said that on Thursday it submitted a letter to the Senate Committee on Finance Chronic Care Working Group highlighting community pharmacies as a source of care for seniors managing chronic health conditions.

“Community pharmacies and pharmacists provide access to prescription medications and over-the-counter products, as well as cost-effective health services such as immunizations and disease screenings,” NACDS wrote in the letter. “Access to these types of services is especially vital for Medicare beneficiaries, as nearly two-thirds are suffering from multiple chronic conditions.”

NACDS also emphasized the benefits of a team-based approach to treating chronic illness. With medications serving as the primary intervention of chronic disease and involved in 80% of all treatment regiments, it’s becoming more critical for health care professionals to work together in the best interest of patients, the association noted.

“A growing body of evidence suggests that when physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals work collaboratively, better health outcomes are achieved,” NACDS said in the letter.

At the same time, a lack of recognition of pharmacists as health care providers by third-party payors, including Medicare, has limited the number and types of services that pharmacists can provide, even though they’re qualified to do so, according to NACDS.

“The adoption of policies and legislation to increase access to much-needed services for underserved Americans, such as S. 314, the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, would allow Medicare Part B to utilize pharmacists to their full capability by providing those underserved beneficiaries with services not currently reaching them,” NACDS stated.

The association, too, called for increased use of medication therapy management (MTM) in Medicare Part D to help ensure access to services for patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol. A number of studies have shown that MTM improves medication adherence and leads to better uses of medicines.

“We believe statutory changes should be made to revise the eligibility requirements so that beneficiaries with certain single chronic conditions will be eligible for MTM,” NACDS said in the letter.


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