Nontraditional or noncentralized models of diabetes care: medication therapy management services

Medication therapy management (MTM)services were introduced in the mid-2000s as part of Medicare Part D--the prescription drug benefit. Key goals of MTM services are to counsel patients to improve understanding of their medications, improve medication adherence, detect adverse drug reactions and patterns of improper drug use. MTM services are becoming well established in pharmacy practice. Pharmacists can help improve outcomes by following patient progress between physician visits, utilizing their clinical expertise to monitor and manage diabetes medication plans, educating patients on disease, lifestyle,and adherence issues. Although referral by a physician/health care professional (HCP) is not required for MTM provided by a pharmacist, the physician/HCP needs to be contacted for anything that requires a change in management