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July 28, 2006 – While formal sessions in the Legislature wind down, Senator Moore and his Senate colleagues passed an important legislation that would allow pharmacists to make voluntary arrangements with physicians to manage drug therapy under collaborative agreements.
“This bill passed by the Senate last night is a significant step to increase patient safety and quality of care,” Moore said. “Pharmacists are recognized and trusted health care experts who have the education, skill and commitment to help patients achieve the best possible health outcomes when drug therapy management is required.”
Since becoming the Senate chair of the Health Care Committee and now the Health Care Financing Committee, Senator Moore has made patient safety and medical error reduction one of his legislative priorities.
This legislation spearheaded by Senator Moore would authorize pharmacists to engage in collaborative drug therapy management practice under the supervision and direction of a physician or group of physicians. Collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) combines the skill and expertise of physicians and pharmacists to improve pharmaceutical care for patients.
Participation in collaborative drug therapy management practice would be voluntary. Only pharmacists and physicians who agree to collaborate would enter into an agreement and develop mutually agreed upon collaborative practice protocols. Based upon the written protocol with the physician, the activities of the pharmacist may include the authorization to implement, modify, discontinue or administer drug therapy and to order the appropriate laboratory tests necessary to monitor the drug therapy.
In a written testimony submitted in support of the legislation, Phyllis Jen, M.D., Medical Director and Jennifer Kirwin, Pharm.D, Clinical Pharmacist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital states that “we very much believe that the pharmacist’s role will become increasingly important as the healthcare environment continues to become more competitive and demanding. Physicians are delegated shorter and shorter times to spend with patients, and therefore, collaborative monitoring of therapy, drug utilization, and medication management becomes increasingly important among allied health providers like pharmacists.”
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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