McKesson leads MTM pilot project

SAN FRANCISCO McKesson Corp. has launched a new medication therapy management pilot program in partnership with the Wisconsin Pharmacy Quality Collaborative, a broad-based initiative led by the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin.

The WPQC is a consortium of pharmacists and health plan/purchaser representatives assembled by the PSW. The goal of the WPQC is to improve patient safety and medication use while reducing healthcare costs.

One of its initiatives is to help local pharmacies—through education and training—to incorporate clinical services into the pharmacy workflow. McKesson will provide software and support services in line with that effort.

The role of the big drug-distribution and health services giant will be “to strengthen communication among a patient’s key care providers—pharmacists, physicians, and payors—to improve patient health outcomes by increasing medication adherence,” according to company spokesman. McKesson will bring to bear some of its assets, including its RelayHealth connectivity service, clinical support tools and reimbursement support services, through its AccessHealth managed care division.

“McKesson is dedicated to delivering the most comprehensive solution that sets the industry standard for MTM,” said Kevin Connor, MTM program executive and vice president of managed care for the health care giant. “Through our solution, McKesson aims to bring together a patient’s key healthcare providers, helping to shape a new era of pharmaceutical care in which patients can expect a higher degree of service and personalized attention.”

WPQC pilot pharmacies that provide MTM services will be reimbursed by participating payors, according to the group. All payors are invited to participate in the pilot program.