Medication therapy management programs: Forming a new cornerstone for quality and safety in Medicare

When Medicare was enacted in 1965, relatively few medications were available, and drug laws had only recently been amended to require that new drugs be demonstrated as safe and effective. Forty years later, a relative abundance of treatment options exist for many health conditions, but drug-related problems are common, particularly for older adults. As the nation begins a new era of expanded access to medications through MMA, opportunities for advancing quality and health within Medicare are created through MTM programs. Putting comprehensive MTM programs into practice will establish a new cornerstone for quality and safety and strengthen the benefits of increased access to prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries. Copyright © 2006 by the American College of Medical Quality.