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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan launches program that teams up pharmacists with primary care doctors to help patients with their medications
bcbsm
| 2 min read
DETROIT, Sept. 14, 2015 - You may be surprised to learn that less than one half of adults take their medications as prescribed. As part of a new initiative to help patients manage and comply with their medication plans, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is collaborating with the University of Michigan Health System, physician organizations and pharmacists across the state to team up pharmacists with patient care teams. The Michigan Pharmacists Transforming Care and Quality program (MPTCQ) will start with 10 participating physician organizations across the state. Clinical pharmacists will work with Patient-Centered Medical Home practices within these organizations to become part of the medical home team that cares for patients. Blue Cross already has the largest Patient-Centered Medical Home program of its kind in the country. The pharmacists will review patients’ medication plans, collaborate with physicians to make necessary medication changes, and work with patients to help them understand how to safely and properly use the medications. “This initiative aims to broaden the relationships between physicians and pharmacists, creating additional care coordination for the patient,” says David Share, MD, MPH, senior vice president, Value Partnerships at Blue Cross. “We’ll be developing effective care models. It extends the team caring for patients, and extends the reach of our Value Partnerships umbrella to include additional care providers such as pharmacists.” “Initially, pharmacists will focus on patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol,” says Hae Mi Choe, Pharm.D., director, Pharmacy Innovations and Partnerships, Faculty Group Practice, University of Michigan Health System and director of this initiative. “Participating pharmacists will work with patients to address their medication concerns, identify any barriers to treatment, and empower them to carry out their medication plan.” After the initiative’s first year, all 46 physician organizations that participate with the Blue Cross PCMH program are expected to be phased in over a three- to four-year period. For more information on this initiative, please visit valuepartnerships.com. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides and administers health benefits to more than 4.4 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies who reside outside the state. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBluesPerspectives.com. Photo Credit: avalos4assembly
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