Kerr hosts senator in push for MTM

RALEIGH, N.C. —Kerr Drug hosted U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan Aug. 16 for a pharmacy and health center tour that drew praise from the North Carolina Democrat and a new push for medication therapy management.

Hagan toured the patient care area of a Kerr drug store in the 90-store chain’s home market, and used the opportunity to talk with patients and pharmacists about the value of pharmacy-based clinical care. The lawmaker, a co-sponsor of the Medication Therapy Management Expanded Benefits Act of 2010, S.3543, lauded the contributions made by pharmacists in improving patient care and controlling health costs. She also promoted the expansion of MTM services to Medicare Part D recipients and worked to include an MTM provision in the new healthcare-reform bill, creating a grant program to promote MTM services.

“Pharmacy is evolving to a more patient-centered focus as patients and providers realize the value of pharmacy in improving health care,” said Kerr chairman and CEO Tony Civello. “We know that for every $1 invested in MTM, overall healthcare costs are reduced by $8 or more. Sen. Hagan understands that value.”