On the recordJune 29, 2010
I am proud today to be joining Senator Hagan in introducing the MTM Expanded Benefits Act. We all know that prescription drugs are an essential part of health care. What a lot of people don't know is that only about 50 percent of Americans typically take their medicines as prescribed. This means that too often, the benefits of these important therapies aren't fully realized. According to a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, over $100 billion is spent annually on avoidable hospitalizations because patients don't take their medications correctly. The MTM Expanded Benefits Act would help improve the care for seniors by increasing access to the medication therapy management benefit--also known as MTM--in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. Medication therapy management is a proven set of services that helps patients get the best possible results from their medications. MTM services are provided by pharmacists who work with patients and their health care providers to make sure that seniors are taking medications as they should be. Through MTM, patients get focused education to make sure they understand their medications--what conditions the drugs treat and how to avoid drug interactions that can make medications less effective or even dangerous.
