Under the Provincial Pharmacare Program, eligible Islanders can now receive a Medication Review through local pharmacists at no cost to patients, says Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie.
“A Medication Review ensures your medication routine is safe, simple and correct for you,” said Minister Currie. “While in many cases it is appropriate for people to be taking all the medications they are on, it is important for Islanders, especially our seniors, to manage the associated risks and understand what each medication treats and how they can interact.”
The Review is a one-on-one, 20- to 30-minute appointment with a pharmacist to look at the patient’s medications and help them to better understand their therapy and ensure the medications are taken as prescribed.
During the Medication Review, a pharmacist will gather information from the patient to find out how well their medications are working. They will also ask questions to find out if the patient is having any side effects. If any medication-related problems are found, the pharmacist will make suggestions on how to solve them. With the patient’s consent, the pharmacist will contact their doctor if needed.
“PEI Pharmacists, as experts in medication therapy, see this as a great opportunity to help patients optimize the safe and effective use of their medications,” said Erin MacKenzie, Executive Director of the PEI Pharmacists Association. “Expanding pharmacy services will serve to provide better access to health care for Islanders, leading to better patient outcomes.”
The program is designed for Islanders at greatest risk of medication complications, including those who are taking three or more chronic prescription medications and are participants in the provincial Seniors’ Drug Cost Assistance program, the Financial Assistance Program or the Private Nursing Home Program. Full details on eligibility can be found at www.healthpei.ca/pharmacare.
One in 200 seniors was hospitalized because of an adverse drug reaction (ADR) in Canada in 2010–2011, compared with one in 1,000 for all other Canadians. This translates to approximately 27,000 people age 65 and older, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). In some cases, these reactions were related to challenges with determining and maintaining the proper medication dosage. Medication review and management can help reduce the number of ADRs which are associated with using a higher number of drugs.
The province is also offering a Diabetes Medication Review for patients taking at least one prescription medication covered under PEI Pharmacare for diabetes and enrolled in the Diabetes Program, the Financial Assistance Program or the Private Nursing Home Program.
This new initiative will in no way change a patient’s relationship with their family doctor – who is their primary caregiver. It will however, allow patients to further utilize the skills of our highly trained pharmacists, who specialize in medications.
“Following a personalized medication review, patients are able to better understand why they are taking their medications,” said Minister Currie. “This program should help to improve patient health outcomes and reduce potential risks associated with taking multiple medications.”
Prince Edward Island is the ninth of the ten provinces to provide eligible patients medication reviews in one form or another.
Backgrounder
As part of the negotiations for the Pharmacy Services Agreement, signed in October 2012, Government and the PEI Pharmacists Association agreed to the creation of a Pharmacy Professional Services Committee, to explore opportunities to support expanded scope of practices for pharmacies.
The Pharmacy Professional Services Committee provides recommendations to the ministry on value-added pharmacist professional services that can be implemented. The committee is comprised of community pharmacists and government officials with the mandate to identify services, to determine legislation and other requirements that must be in place to enable the new services, and to identify appropriate payment for the new services.
The Medication Reviews under the Provincial Pharmacare Program is the first recommendation from this committee to be implemented.
The Provincial Pharmacare Program began accepting claims for the Medication Reviews on April 1, 2013. The program’s details are as follows:
Program Goal:
• To provide a professional pharmacy service focused on the appropriate utilization of chronic medications to improve patient outcomes.
Objectives:
• Improve a patient’s knowledge of and adherence with their medications
• Enhance the potential benefits associated with a patient’s medications
• Reduce the potential risks associated with a patient’s medications
• Optimize drug therapy and improve lifestyle
• Achieve safe, effective and appropriate use of all types of medications, medication devices and supplies
What will the pharmacist do?
• Check for drug interactions and side effects
• Discuss which medications need to be watched closely to keep you safe
• Find easier ways to take your medications, such as easy-open bottles or using a pill box
• Develop a medication schedule to fit your lifestyle
• Assess pain level and discuss options to lessen your pain (if needed)
• Review the medication plan with your doctor and other health-care providers and link with your community pharmacist, as needed, and with your consent
• Arrange for any necessary follow-up services
Eligibility:
PEI Basic Medication Review (BMR):
The beneficiary must be taking three (3) or more chronic prescription medications which are covered by the Pharmacare Programs and are used for the treatment of chronic conditions. The beneficiaries must be covered under the following programs:
1. Seniors Drug Cost Assistance Program
2. Financial Assistance Program
3. Private Nursing Home Program
PEI Diabetes Medication Review (DMR):
The beneficiary must be taking at least one (1) prescription medication(s) which is covered by the Pharmacare Programs and is used for the treatment of diabetes. The beneficiaries must be diabetics registered with PEI Pharmacare and beneficiaries with diabetes in the following Pharmacare Programs:
1. Diabetes Program
2. Financial Assistance Program
3. Private Nursing Home Program
PEI Basic Medication Review Follow-Up (BMRF) and PEI Diabetes Medication Review Follow-Up (DMRF):
Follow-Ups are to be completed in person with the beneficiary. To be eligible for a Medication Review Follow-Up the beneficiary must:
1. Meet the eligibility criteria set out for the corresponding BMR or DMR; and
2. Have had a BMR or DMR within the last 365 days; and
3. Have a clinical need:
a. Medication change; or
b. Discharge from hospital; or
c. Planned hospital admission; or
d. Physician request; or
e. Pharmacists’ professional documented decision; and
4. Have not exceeded the BMRF/DMRF claim limits (maximum of four total follow-up appointments, including both BMRF and DMRF, per 365 days).