Comments on: HCR update: APhA’s current objectives http://blog.pharmacist.com/tmenighan/index.php/2009/10/13/hcr-update-aphas-current-objectives/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:09:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Susan Torrico http://blog.pharmacist.com/tmenighan/index.php/2009/10/13/hcr-update-aphas-current-objectives/comment-page-1/#comment-1352 Susan Torrico Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:06:30 +0000 http://blog.pharmacist.com/tmenighan/?p=441#comment-1352 APhA has been fighting to get reimbursed for MTM services for decades, and this is an extremely important "victory" for our profession. What's really troubling is to think that we still have to go through nurses or doctors to get reimbursed. It's like begging at the "back door for a handout". The claims process, by itself, is likely designed to be complicated and time-consuming (to discourage claims). So I have to wonder how many pharmacists are actually billing for services. Unfortunately, it's always easier and quicker to just give advice and be done with it. But we can no longer afford to keep doing "Business as usual"... Admittedly, I've been out of this part of the practice since 2000, and this may have been done already, but FWIW - APhA needs to push for a simplified process or provide claims processing guides, so more members can better understand how to utilize the payment process. The trend toward prevention and wellness programs such as diabetes screenings is an excellent way to go, and the Association also needs to provide our members with simple and effective patient-focused care enhancement tools to expand the practice in this area. Good Luck with this! APhA has been fighting to get reimbursed for MTM services for decades, and this is an extremely important “victory” for our profession. What’s really troubling is to think that we still have to go through nurses or doctors to get reimbursed. It’s like begging at the “back door for a handout”.

The claims process, by itself, is likely designed to be complicated and time-consuming (to discourage claims). So I have to wonder how many pharmacists are actually billing for services. Unfortunately, it’s always easier and quicker to just give advice and be done with it. But we can no longer afford to keep doing “Business as usual”… Admittedly, I’ve been out of this part of the practice since 2000, and this may have been done already, but FWIW – APhA needs to push for a simplified process or provide claims processing guides, so more members can better understand how to utilize the payment process.

The trend toward prevention and wellness programs such as diabetes screenings is an excellent way to go, and the Association also needs to provide our members with simple and effective patient-focused care enhancement tools to expand the practice in this area.
Good Luck with this!

]]> By: John T. (tom) Gulick http://blog.pharmacist.com/tmenighan/index.php/2009/10/13/hcr-update-aphas-current-objectives/comment-page-1/#comment-464 John T. (tom) Gulick Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:35:14 +0000 http://blog.pharmacist.com/tmenighan/?p=441#comment-464 Dear Tom: I think that we must insist on adequate payment for knowledge and expertise. We cannot ask pharmacists to continue to give away their knowledge and advice as we have done for the past 60 years that I have been involved in the profesion. I am out of the active practice of pharmacy since I retired in 1999. We still need a new method of compensation for pharmacists!! Dear Tom: I think that we must insist on adequate payment for knowledge and expertise. We cannot ask pharmacists to continue to give away their knowledge and advice as we have done for the past 60 years that I have been involved in the profesion. I am out of the active practice of pharmacy since I retired in 1999. We still need a new method of compensation for pharmacists!!

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