PHARMACIST ROLE IN THE HEALTH CARE (MEDICAL) HOME

To advocate to health policymakers, payers, and other stakeholders for the inclusion of pharmacists as a care provider within the health care (medical) home model; further,

To ensure that there are appropriate reimbursement mechanisms for the care that pharmacists provide (including care coordination services) within the health care home model; further, 

To advocate to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that pharmacists be included in demonstration projects for the health care home model; further, 

To encourage comparative effectiveness research and measurement of key outcomes (e.g., clinical, economic, quality, access) for pharmacist services in the health care home model.

Rationale

The concept of a “health care home,” also referred to as a “medical home,” was first described by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1992. The health care (medical) home model emphasizes care coordination from a medical practice and uses an interdisciplinary health care team approach to managing a patient’s overall health. A recent Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) report discussed a health care home program in Medicare and stated that medication reviews conducted by a health care home would ideally be coordinated by a pharmacist. As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) begins health care home demonstration projects, it is important that a pharmacist be included in the health care home model and that pharmacists be factored into the compensation for services provided. To determine the effectiveness of the care that is delivered, research and measurement of key outcomes are important elements of any demonstration or permanent delivery model.