The Pharmacy Blog

Jefferson City, MO (June 12, 2013) –  The Missouri Pharmacy Association (MPA) celebrated the outstanding efforts of individuals in the pharmacy profession during the Annual Convention and Trade Show in Branson last week.  Fifteen MPA members were presented with awards during the three-day event.

Amy DeWein, PharmD, founder of the Senior RxAccess Program in St. Louis, was presented with the 2013 Pharmacist Making a Difference Award. To be nominated for the award, the pharmacist must have shown a desire to go above and beyond the call of duty in making a difference in the quality of life in her patients. Dr. DeWein has over 25 years of experience in pharmacy including community, hospital, medical informatics, and health care service program design.

The 2013 Young Pharmacist Award was presented to Christy Ledford, PharmD, pharmacist-in-charge at Red Cross Pharmacy in Grain Valley. To be nominated for the award, the pharmacist must demonstrate a rare, unique, or innovative style of pharmacy practice. Dr. Ledford is extremely active within a variety of pharmacy associations, including MPA, American Association of Diabetes Educators, and a consultant within her pharmacy where she educates patients on diabetes self-management, adherence counseling, and specialty compounding.

Paul Perniciaro, chairman of the Show Me Falls Free Missouri Coalition and executive director of Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging, was the recipient of the Innovative Pharmacy Practice Award. This award is presented to a pharmacist who has shown a rare, unique, or innovative style of pharmacy practice.  Perniciaro received this award for showing commitment and innovation to preventing and spreading awareness of falls-prevention.

The “Bowl of Hygeia” Award is presented annually to a pharmacist for their outstanding record of community service. The American Pharmacists Association Foundation and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations sponsor this award with support from Boehringer Ingelheim. The 2013 recipient of the “Bowl of Hygeia” Award was Kenneth Schafermeyer, professor of pharmacy administration and director of the office of international programs at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP).

The 2013 Terry Mungle Award was presented to Ree Hamlin, BA, of Cardinal Health. To be nominated for the award, the pharmacist must demonstrate a passion for offering outstanding service to pharmacy customers, be interested and knowledgeable of pharmacy needs and concerns and show interest in and support the Missouri Pharmacy Association activities and mission. Hamlin’s passion has always been to find ways to help independent pharmacies and business entrepreneurs be profitable and survive in an ever-changing market.

The Cardinal Health Generation Rx Champions Award is given annually to recognize a pharmacist who has demonstrated excellence in community-based prescription drug abuse prevention. The 2013 recipient was Jerry Callahan, owner of Elsberry Pharmacy and multiple Medicine Shoppe Pharmacies.

Jamey Lumley, business development manager for PBA Health in Marshfield, was presented with the 2013 Traveler of the Year Award.  This award is given to a sales representative that has shown a willingness and initiative to help pharmacists better serve their patients and the community, as well as have shown support and interest in MPA.

The 2013 Technician of the Year Award was given to La Shae Gibson, CPhT, of Key Drugs in Poplar Bluff. To be nominated for the award, the technician must show exemplary work in their daily activities in pharmacy. Gibson has more than 15 years of experience working in the community practice setting. She has worked at Key Drugs for almost nine years and for the past eight years she has been a compounding technician

Terry Seaton, PharmD, BCPS, was presented with the 2013  STLCOP Faculty Member of the Year award. Dr. Seaton is Professor and Associate Director of Pharmacy Practice at STLCOP where he teaches advocacy, informatics, and evidence-based medicine. His research focus is in the area of clinical decision support systems.

The 2013 UMKC Faculty Member of the Year was awarded to Kristen DiDonato, BCACP, Clinical Assistant Professor at University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy.  She also has a clinical practice site at Red Cross Pharmacy in Excelsior Springs where she has made an impact by expanding patient care programs.

Christian Tadrus, RPh, FASCP, AE-C, PharmD, was presented with the 2013 Incoming President Award. He will serve as president of the MPA Board of Directors for 2013-2014. Dr. Tadrus also received the National Community Pharmacists Association’s Leadership Award. This award is presented to the incoming president to acknowledge the time, talent and commitment that is required to lead a state pharmacy association. Dr. Tadrus co-owns three Sam’s Health Mart facilities located in Moberly and Fayette.

Each year the MPA President may select an individual for the President’s Award who has shown devotion to the Association and who has helped the president accomplish goals. This year, the award was presented to Heather Burney, PharmD, for her outstanding service and loyalty to the Missouri Pharmacy Association.

The MPA President also selects a fellow board member to receive the Appreciation Award. Erica Hopkins-Wadlow, PharmD, of D&H Drugstore in Columbia, was presented with the 2013 award for her hard work and dedication to the MPA Board of Directors.

The incoming MPA President selects an honorary president. John Pieper, PharmD, FCCP, president of STLCOP, was honored with the designation this year.

Established in 1879, the Missouri Pharmacy Association, www.MORx.com, promotes leadership, sharing, learning, and policy exchange among pharmacy leaders in the state of Missouri and provides education and advocacy to support pharmacists, patients, and communities working together to improve public health.

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Dear Pharmacist:
You are invited to complete this survey involving research entitled, “Evaluation of pharmacist perceptions regarding the role of pharmacists in providing patient care services” conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy.  The survey consists of questions about your knowledge and self-efficacy regarding patient care services offered by pharmacists, as well as your confidence in your ability to perform various patient care services. The risk associated with this study is no greater than everyday life.

The results of this survey will help to provide information about your views about the pharmacists’ ability and willingness to provide patient care services. This information can be used to help develop and tailor education and services to meet pharmacists’ needs during a time of change in pharmacy practice.
Completing this online survey is completely voluntary.

It is estimated that the survey will take less than 20 minutes to complete.  Your answers to the survey will remain confidential.  Your name will not be associated with the survey.  Your participation is fully voluntary and no compensation will be provided.  If you feel uncomfortable answering a survey question, you may choose to not answer that question.  If you wish to stop your participation in this research study, you may stop the survey at any time.  If you choose to participate in this study please click the link to begin the survey.

Thank you for your time and participation!  If you have any questions about the study, want additional information, or wish to receive results of the study, please contact the primary researcher conducting this study.  You may keep this survey cover letter for your information.  The following is the primary researcher’s contact information:

If you have questions about the survey, please contact:
Sharon B.S. Gatewood, Pharm.D.
School of Pharmacy
Virginia Commonwealth University
PO Box 980533
Richmond, Virginia 23298-05338
Phone: (804) 828-3589
E-mail: ssgatewood@vcu.edu

If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in this study, you may contact:
Office for Research
Virginia Commonwealth University
800 East Leigh Street, Suite 115
P.O. Box 980568
Richmond, VA  23298
Telephone:  804-828-0868

You may also contact this number for general questions, concerns or complaints about the research.  Please call this number if you cannot reach the primary researcher or if you wish to talk to someone else.  Additional information about participation in research studies can be found at http://www.research.vcu.edu/irb/volunteers.htm.

Please complete the survey via the link:
http://vcupharmacy.us2.qualtrics.com/WRQualtricsSurveyEngine/?Q_SS=9mkvfIIJ6EX51eB_4N34cTjpvJ4MPVb&_=1

In October 2012, CMS issued guidance requiring sponsors to report Patient Residence and Pharmacy Service values on PDE records submitted February 28, 2013 or later.  The guidance permits retail pharmacies to default to a Patient Residence of 1 (Home) and a Pharmacy Service Type of 1 (Community/Retail Pharmacy Services) on the claim transaction or leave these fields blank.  If the retail pharmacy fails to include a Patient Residence and/or Pharmacy Service Type on the claim, the Part D sponsor may accept the transaction and report the default values (Patient Residence of 0 (Not specified) and Pharmacy Service Type of 99 (Other)) on the PDE.

Since issuance of the guidance, CMS has engaged in consultation with the industry through NCPDP regarding the requirements for 2014.   The following requirements are based on the industry recommendations.

Beginning in 2014, CMS will require that sponsors report valid Patient Residence and Pharmacy Service Type values on all PDEs.   Valid Patient Residence codes at this time include:
·         0- Not specified, other patient residence not identified below;
·         1- Home;
·         3- Nursing Facility
·         4- Assisted Living Facility
·         6- Group Home
·         9- Intermediate Care Facility/Mentally Retarded; and
·         11- Hospice.

Retail pharmacies and mail order pharmacies must include a valid Patient Residence code on all Part D claims transactions; however if the patient residence is unknown, these pharmacies may default to a Patient Residence of 1 (Home).  We expect that LTC pharmacies, home infusion pharmacies and specialty pharmacies, since they deliver to the patient residence, will know with precision the patient residence and, thus this information will be appropriately reported on PDEs associated with claims from these providers.

We expect all pharmacies will know the appropriate (i.e., non-default) pharmacy service code to include on all Part D claims.  Valid Pharmacy Service Type codes currently include the following values:
·         1- Community/Retail Pharmacy Services;
·         2- Compounding Pharmacy Services;
·         3- Home Infusion Therapy Provider Services;
·         4- Institutional Pharmacy Services;
·         5- Long Term Care Pharmacy Services;
·         6- Mail Order Pharmacy Services;
·         7- Managed Care Organization Pharmacy Services;
·         8- Specialty Care Pharmacy Services; and
·         99- Other.

Claims with a missing or invalid code may be rejected at point-of-sale, if the sponsor has implemented a process to ensure the corrected claim is resubmitted promptly.

ATTENTION: Referral Agents/Discharge Planners/Social Workers/Medicare Beneficiary Advocates

IMPORTANT TIME SENSITIVE MEDICARE INFORMATION

Round 2 of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program is targeted to start on July 1, 2013 for people with Original Medicare in 91 areas across the country, including your area.   This new program will change the amount Medicare pays for certain DMEPOS items and services and will also make changes to which suppliers Medicare will pay to furnish these items.  When the program starts, Original Medicare beneficiaries who live in or visit one of these competitive bidding areas will need to use a Medicare contract supplier for Medicare to pay for certain DMEPOS items unless an exception applies. At the same time, Medicare will also be implementing a national competitive bidding program for mail-order diabetic testing supplies where Medicare beneficiaries across the country will need to use a Medicare contract supplier in order for Medicare to pay for diabetic testing supplies delivered to their homes. As the agency responsible for implementing both programs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced these contract suppliers and we would like to take the opportunity to share this important information.

The Round 2 DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program contract suppliers in each area can be found at www.medicare.gov/supplier. The following categories of DMEPOS are included in Round 2:

-     Oxygen, oxygen equipment, and supplies;
-     Standard (power and manual) wheelchairs, scooters, and related accessories;
-     Enteral nutrients, equipment and supplies;
-     Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices and Respiratory Assist Devices (RADs), and related supplies and accessories;
-     Hospital beds and related accessories;
-     Walkers and related accessories;
-     Support surfaces (Group 2 Mattresses and Overlays); and
-     Negative Pressure Wound Therapy pumps and related supplies and accessories.

The national mail-order program contract suppliers can also be found on www.medicare.gov/supplier.  Suppliers that are awarded a national mail-order contract will be required to furnish mail-order diabetic testing supplies to beneficiaries with Original Medicare in all parts of the United States, including the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.  Additional information can be found at http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/Downloads/DME_Mail_Order_Factsheet_ICN900924.pdf.

The CMS DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program website features current information that is a resource for you and your staff:

• The DMEPOS Competitive Bidding toolkit, a resource for people who help beneficiaries:
  http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/Partnerships/DMEPOS_Toolkit.html.

• The CMS DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program website, which includes updated fact sheets and other information: www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/index.html.

CMS welcomes the distribution of this information to other referral agents and encourages you to sign up for our email update at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCMS/subscriber/new?pop=t&topic_id=USCMS_7814

We look forward to also serving as a resource to you for this change to the Medicare program.  We will continue to provide training opportunities in our competitive bidding areas. Please contact Claire Pavlecich at ROkcmMFM@cms.hhs.gov or 816-426-5033 for places, dates, and times and/or if you are interested in hosting an educational event at your facility or learning more about this initiative.

Sincerely,

Lisa Goschen
Associate Regional Administrator

Important Links

• Beneficiary Tri-fold Brochure http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/Partnerships/Downloads/DMEPOSBeneIntroBrochureApril201311363.pdf
• Beneficiary Fact Sheet http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/Partnerships/Downloads/DMEPOSBeneFactSheetMarch2013.pdf
• National Mail Order Diabetic Supplies Fact Sheet http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/Partnerships/Downloads/DMEPOSBeneFactSheetNatMailOrderProgApril201311634.pdf
• Travelling Beneficiary Conference Card http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/Partnerships/Downloads/CorrectedTravelBeneConfCardApril2013.pdf
• Partner Program Preview/Beneficiary Safeguards http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/Partnerships/Downloads/DMEPOSPartnerProgramPreviewBeneSafeguardsMarch2013.pdf