The Five Steps of MTM The Benefits of MTM MTM empowers individuals by providing them with the education necessary to make informed decisions on the proper use of their medications. With more people using their medications correctly there would be less hospitalizations and adverse effects. This would lessen the burden placed on physicians, tax payers, insurance providers, and the health care system as a whole. 4 Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Shay Bingham, PharmD Candidate, Robert Thompson, PharmD Candidate, Tauna Eckersley, PharmD Candidate, Tuyet Nguyen, PharmD Candidate, J. Arion Erekson, PharmD Candidate, Trevor Blackwell, PharmD Candidate Roseman University of Health Sciences Medication Use In The United States Every year 3.7 billion prescriptions are dispensed 1 In the U.S., 21.4% of the population used three or more prescription drugs in the past month.( ) 2 There were 1.5 million preventable medication errors 3 These errors cost $177 billion in healthcare dollars 3 These numbers represent the lives of real individuals Limiting Preventable Medication Errors If a person takes a medication to treat a condition they are using medication therapy. Medication Therapy Management (MTM) ensures the proper use of those medications. MTM is a team-based approach to health care. It can help manage the treatment of many chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and high cholesterol. All these disease states are increasing with the aging United States population. 4 Together the patient, physician, and pharmacist work towards achieving better outcomes for the patient. MTM Education and Implementation Most people are unaware that MTM services are available to them. Even fewer are aware that many insurance providers including Medicare may cover these services.   Learn Legislators can learn more about other communities that have already made an effort to incorporate MTM services. One well known example is the Asheville project which took place in the city of Asheville, North Carolina. City employees worked together with pharmacists to ensure they were using their medications correctly and improved their clinical outcomes in areas such as diabetes and blood pressure.   Reach Utah legislators could make MTM services available to state employees. In the case of Asheville the city spent $351 per employee and still saved $918 over the initial investment in the first year. 5 MTM services could eventually be extended to Medicaid, and save the state of Utah and it’s residents additional money while improving quality of life for the beneficiaries.   Teach Utah could pass legislation that supports the education of individuals on what MTM services are, and the benefits to all parties involved. References 1. Statehealthfacts.org: Your source for state health data [Internet]. Washington DC: Kaiser Family Foundation; [updated 2012 Jul 17; cited 2013 Jan 9]. Available from: 2. CDC.gov: FastStats [Internet]. Hyattsville (MD): Centers for Disease Control and prevention; [updated 2012 Aug 20; cited 2013 Jan 9]. Available from: 3. American Pharmacists Association, National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation. Medication therapy management in pharmacy practice: core elements of an MTM service model (version 2.0). J Am Pham Assoc [Internet] May-Jun [cited 2013 Jan 9]; 48(3): Available from: Morrison GM, Glover D, Gilchrist SM, Casey MO, Lanza A, Lane RI, Patanian M. A program guide for public health: Partnering with pharmacist in the prevention and control of chronic diseases [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2012 Aug [cited 2013 Jan 9]. Available from: 5. Garrett D. Beyond the Asheville Project: Are We in the Middle of a Tipping Point?. Pharmacy Times Supplement Jun [cited 2013 Jan 20]; CDC.gov: FastStats [Internet]. Hyattsville (MD): Centers for Disease Control and prevention; [updated 2012 Aug 20; cited 2013 Jan9]. Available from: Asheville Project Spending Budgeted amount was $9382 and actual amount spent was $8464.