WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — CVS/pharmacy has agreed to become part of the Outcomes Inc. national medication therapy management (MTM) network.
Outcomes said Wednesday that under the arrangement, CVS/pharmacy’s approximately 7,300 drug store locations will be added to Outcomes’ network of MTM Centers.
"Pharmacists are the most effective health care professionals at helping patients take their medications as prescribed and identifying gaps in pharmacy care. Our 7,300 retail pharmacies provide convenient opportunities every day for patients to have face-to-face interactions with pharmacists," Josh Flum, senior vice president of retail pharmacy for CVS/pharmacy, said in a statement. "We are pleased to partner with Outcomes by offering their MTM services through our unparalleled technology and our pharmacists’ relationships with patients and health care providers."
Outcomes MTM-covered members are eligible for services from specially trained Personal Pharmacists in their communities, including CVS pharmacists, to help them get effective results from their medications and control costs, according to Outcomes. Local pharmacists participating in the program receive alerts and information on medication use patterns plus guidance on how to work with patients and doctors to close key therapy gaps.
Many of the alerts are designed to improve Medicare STAR Ratings, noted Outcomes, which added that its program — employing a highly refined clinical rules engine and face-to-face MTM services — has been shown to have a significant impact on STAR Ratings performance.
"The addition of CVS/pharmacy to the Outcomes MTM network enhances patient access to face-to-face MTM services to an unprecedented level," stated Patty Kumbera, chief operating officer for Outcomes. "Since 1999, Outcomes has focused on building a scalable model for the delivery of MTM services. This is an important step in ensuring patients everywhere in the United States have access to these valuable services."
More than 40 U.S. health plans have adopted the Outcomes MTM platform, which links those plans with almost 50,000 chain, independent, consultant and health-system pharmacy providers nationwide.
