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1994.09.23 : Prescription Drugs Counseling

Contact:  Anne Verano     (202) 690-6145
Friday, Sept. 23, 1994 


             COUNSELING REQUIRED FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

     A federal regulation published today specifies requirements for
pharmacist counseling of patients whose prescription drugs are
covered by state Medicaid programs.

     HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala said, "Expert counseling of
patients on the use of prescribed drugs is essential for achieving
quality health care. 

     "Because of their professional knowledge and skills,
pharmacists have a special responsibility to advise patients on
potential reactions to drugs or combinations of drugs," she said.

     The regulation published in today's Federal Register clarifies
and defines provisions of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1990.

     Under the law, state Medicaid agencies must have drug use
review programs to ensure that prescriptions are appropriate,
medically necessary and unlikely to produce adverse effects.

     Before dispensing prescription drugs, pharmacists must counsel
Medicaid patients on the proper use of medicines and identify drugs
that may cause harmful effects by interacting with others being
taken by the patient.  The pharmacist must try to identify patient
allergies and reactions to drugs. 

     Bruce C. Vladeck, administrator of the Health Care Financing
Administration, said, "Medicaid beneficiaries are well served not
only by drug counseling, but also by drug use review using automated
claims-management systems being used in more than half of the state
prescription drug programs.

     "The new systems enable participating pharmacists anywhere in a
state to instantly confirm the Medicaid eligibility of a customer
and retrieve data to use in point-of-sale counseling."

      As many as 25 states are expected to have installed these
electronic systems by the end of this year.

     Vladeck explained that the automated systems enable Medicaid
beneficiaries to receive quick and efficient service with advice
based on reliable information. The central claims-management system
tells the pharmacist what drugs have been purchased by the
beneficiary in the past and in what quantities.

     "We have actively promoted automation, advising states and
helping them to meet the technology investments and those of
participating pharmacies," Vladeck said.

     Vladeck said automation "produces significant savings in
claims-processing costs, improves quality of care and achieves
greater efficiency in providing service." 

                                 ###

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Health Care Financing Administration administers
the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which help pay the medical bills
of 67 million Americans. HCFA's fiscal year 1994 budget amounts to
nearly $250 billion.