Ready, willing, and able to provide MTM services?: A survey of community pharmacists in the USA.
BACKGROUND
Changes in US Medicare legislation could benefit pharmacy's attempt to make medication therapy management (MTM) practice more commonplace; however, little is known about pharmacists' capabilities and preferences to do so.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to explore US pharmacists' perceived preparedness, willingness, and challenges toward providing MTM services.


METHODS
A brief purpose of the survey and its website link were included in the electronic weekly newsletter of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) in January 2007. The web-based survey consisted of 8 demographic questions, 8 questions examining preparedness and willingness of the respondents regarding MTM, 2 questions regarding reimbursement to pharmacists, and 2 checklists for challenges in establishing MTM services.


RESULTS
Most of the 143 respondents indicated that they were aware of MTM, and 92 (65%) reported that they were currently practicing MTM. A majority of the sample agreed that pharmacists should provide MTM and have the ability to do so. Major challenges reported by the sample include the different specification of MTM by each health plan, time, staffing, and reimbursement issues. Respondents selected valid measures of program effectiveness but revealed that they needed help with documentation and billing. Expected reimbursement range was $1-10/minute.


CONCLUSIONS
Community independent pharmacists reported being ready, willing, and able to provide MTM services, but need assistance in the process, that is, standardized MTM protocols, documentation and billing.
Law
Anandi V
AV
Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration, Western University of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Pomona, CA, USA.
Okamoto
Mark P
MP
Brock
Kelly
K
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000639:trends*; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054539:Medication Therapy Management / Q000639:trends*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D014481:United States