CareFirst BCBS Launches Medication Program for over One Million Members

Plan to integrate local pharmacist services into 'medical home'

DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield has positioned local pharmacists to play a key role in one of the nation’s largest initiatives focused on the coordination of primary care for patients. As part of the “medical home” program, CareFirst has selected Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care^® (Outcomes^®) to provide Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services via local pharmacies for over 1.1 million patients.

“Through our collaboration with Outcomes, we have had a face-to-face approach to MTM services within our Medicare Part D program for over five years,” said Winston Wong, PharmD, Associate Vice President, Pharmacy Management for CareFirst. “We understand the value local pharmacists provide. It was important to us that they have a role in our medical home program.”

Outcomes identifies medication treatment gaps and works with local pharmacists and prescribers to close these gaps, reducing drug costs and improving adherence. CareFirst is one of over 30 US health plans that have adopted the Outcomes unified MTM platform which connects such plans with 39,000 chain, independent, consultant and health-system pharmacy providers across the country.

Through the program, CareFirst members will be eligible for MTM services from specially-trained Personal Pharmacists™ to help them achieve safe and effective results from their medications while controlling costs. Through the program, participating local pharmacists receive alerts and information concerning medication use patterns, as well as guidance on working with patients and doctors to fix potential drug complications.

Members will be eligible for a full menu of covered services including an annual Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR). The CMR allows members to meet one-on-one with a local pharmacist to review their complete medication profile to detect and prevent any potential conflicts or duplications. Additional services such as patient education, compliance monitoring, and assistance with non-prescription medications will also be available.

The program will take place in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia.

In its 74th year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit health care company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to nearly 3.4 million individuals and groups in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. Through its CareFirst Commitment initiative and other public mission activities, CareFirst supports efforts to increase the accessibility, affordability, safety and quality of health care throughout its market areas. To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, visit our Web site at www.carefirst.com or follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CareFirst_News.

Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care is the national leader in the design, delivery, and administration of Medication Therapy Management programs. The company’s service line benefits health care purchasers by delivering a cost effective approach to advancing patient care and controlling utilization through the provision of patient-friendly, face-to-face personal pharmacist services. The company is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa and may be found online at www.getoutcomes.com.

To schedule an interview on this topic, please contact Steve Berry at 877.237.0050 or [email protected].

Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health CareSteve Berry, 877-237-0050
[email protected]

Source: Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care