Frequently asked questions

What is medication management?

Medication management is a new service that is being offered by pharmacists who are specially trained to manage a patient’s medications in a comprehensive and systematic manner. Patients who see multiple physicians, take multiple medications, have multiple medical conditions or have questions and concerns about their medications will benefit from this service.

Doesn’t my physician already do this?

Physicians are very careful about the medications they prescribe and the decisions they make and physicians always do the best they can to provide information and answers about a patient’s medications. At times, however, there is not enough time to discuss everything, or multiple physicians are prescribing multiple medications and it is not always possible to know everything that is happening with a patient. This service manages all of a patient’s medications, regardless of the source (prescription, nonprescription, vitamins, supplements, alternative products, traditional medicines) and focuses on your needs and preferences regarding your medications. The pharmacists providing medication management services work very closely with your physician to get the best results possible from your medications.

Do all pharmacists provide the service?

Medication management is still a relatively new service that requires special training, so all pharmacists are not yet providing the service; however, many are making the service available. You can ask your physician or your pharmacist how to gain access to the service.

Do all insurance companies pay for the service?

Because the service is still new, not all insurance companies pay for the service. However, the federal government pays for the service to be delivered to qualified Medicare patients, many state governments pay for Medicaid recipients to receive the service and many employers are paying for their employees to receive the service as a health care benefit. Any patient can pay for the service themselves as a private patient and many patients are paying for the service out of their health savings account.

How do I benefit from the service?

This service will provide you with a number of benefits. You will have a personalized pharmacist with whom you can discuss all of your medications and your medical conditions. You will have your questions answered, and your concerns addressed. You will be assured that all the medications you are taking are appropriate for your medical conditions, that they are treating the conditions you have effectively, that your medications are safe to take together and that you are on the simplest, most convenient drug therapy available. In addition, the pharmacist will help you and your doctor to reach your treatment goals quickly and effectively.

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