Recognizing Pharmacists in Value Based Care

The importance of medication monitoring, management, and assessment was clearly stated in the Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA '87). OBRA '87 resulted in long-term care surveyor guidance, which identified that all medication use is "based in the care process and includes recognition or identification of the problem/need, assessment, diagnosis/cause identification, management/treatment, monitoring and revising interventions." The resulting profession of long-term care consultant pharmacy targeted the long-term care resident population, who are arguably the most vulnerable of all populations. It makes sense that if a medication related problem impacts a patient, it would impact a frail and vulnerable patient quickly and significantly. But today, there is increasing awareness that medication management provided by skilled professionals such as pharmacists, as part of interdisciplinary teams, improves outcomes for all patients.