Posted by Autumn Spence
Next week is NHPCO's Annual Management & Leadership Conference in Washington DC and the Outcome Resources team looks forward to seeing you there! If you have the chance to attend this year, stop by Booth #202 in the Exhibit Hall. We will have a special treat for the first 100 attendees that come by at the Opening Reception on April 22nd from 5:15pm - 7:00pm. Also, be sure to enter to win our contests and pick up information to share with your team. If you are not attending, request your Free Information Kit or a Free Consultation to learn more.
Outcome Resources is a Pharmacy Benefit Manager for hospices. Take a look at some of the benefits available to your hospice by partnering with OR:
- With one contract, your hospice receives one low discounted rate on ALL medications.
- Your patients have their choice of pharmacies (including mail order options) while your hospice receives one clear and concise invoice.
- Easier management of hospice patients in skilled facilities since all closed-door pharmacies are included on your invoice.
- With custom-tailored plan design and formulary control, you are in control of the medications that are dispensed and paid for by hospice.
- Your pharmacies are paid electronically every 15 days and processing claims through our program means fast and easy dispensing along with reduced chance for error.
- Unlimited Access to a team of experienced PharmDs for patient consults, drug information, and education programs.
- Online access to reports and patient medication information means you always have management tools at your fingertips.
- Dedicated lines of communication with your Account Claims Manager and Pharmacists to eliminate time-wasting transfers and phone trees.
- Partnership with a company dedicated solely to hospices - we understand your specific complex requirements.
- You can keep your hospice's medication dollars in the local economy, supporting the community that in turn supports your hospice.
Posted by Dr. Jim Joyner
Extensive federal Hospice Conditions of Participation (CoP's) were published in the Federal Register June 5, 2008. These regulations became effective on December 2, 2008. A documented comprehensive assessment of each patient is required which must identify patient needs across the entire spectrum of hospice related care. Part of this assessment entails a review of each patient's drugs both prescription and OTC drugs, including herbal remedies. The review should address at least the following:
1) Effectiveness of drug therapy
2) Drug side effects
3) Actual or potential drug interactions
4) Duplicate drug therapy
5) Drug therapy currently associated with lab monitoring
With regard to the drug regimen review, the hospice is required to ensure that the interdisciplinary group confers with an individual with education and training in drug therapy management . This individual may be an employee of the hospice or under contract with the hospice to ensure that drugs and biologicals meet the patient's individual needs. In most cases this individual would be a clinical pharmacist.
Outcome Resources offers a service to provide Comprehensive Medication Reviews. Our team of PharmD's can provide these for all patients, just complex patients, or as needed if the qualified person the hospice employs is unavailable. Turnaround time is 24-48 hours, well within the 5 day timeframe established by the CoP's. If you are interested in learning more about the services we can offer to your hospice, Contact Us for more information.