Ensure the Proper Use of Medication for Better Health

The Hill's Congress Blog
March 30, 2011

Medication adherence, or ensuring the proper use of medication, is a serious and growing problem, particularly with older Americans. It not only has serious health consequences, it's also a major contributor to rising healthcare costs.

Ten years ago, the costs of non-adherence -- such as hospitalizations and other costly medical treatments -- was estimated to be $177 billion annually, according to researchers Ernst and Grizzle of the University of Arizona's College of Pharmacy. In 2009, the research group NEHI released a study estimating the potential costs to be as high as a staggering $290 billion each year...

 Community pharmacists are among America’s most accessible and most trusted health care providers. We’re able to work directly with patients to help them stay healthy through effective use of their medicines while also avoiding costly medical complications. This bipartisan legislation to expand Medicare’s coverage of Medication Therapy Management services is the right prescription for reducing care costs and improving health outcomes.

Link to Full Article: http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/152711-ensure-the-proper-…