Kennedy and MacLean to brief US congress about pharmacists on the healthcare team

Amanda G. Kennedy, PharmD, BCPS, Associate Professor of Medicine and Charles D. MacLean, MDCM, Professor of Medicine will be briefing congress on Wednesday May 18th. The purpose of the briefing is to describe how the integration of clinical pharmacists as members of the healthcare team can improve the safety and effectiveness of medications for our complex patients. The briefing is coinciding with the introduction of HR4878, the “Better Care, Lower Cost Act” by Congressmen Erik Paulsen and Peter Welch.

Getting the Medications Right:

Essential for Effective Chronic Care Treatment

Health Care Briefing

Wednesday, May 18th

3:00 PM

B-318 Rayburn Office Building

Dear Colleague:

Please join us for a briefing on how comprehensive medication management (CMM) services, delivered under team-based care structures, can significantly improve patient outcomes and control healthcare costs.  The briefing will be held on May 18th at 3:00 PM in room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office Building. 

CMM is truly collaborative, in that it brings together highly qualified pharmacists, physicians and other members of the healthcare team to ensure that patients are getting the right medications and using them in the right way to achieve the best clinical outcomes.  CMM helps ensure that we are “getting the medications right” for seniors suffering from chronic ailments. Since prescription medicine plays such an important role in modern healthcare – especially for seniors with chronic conditions -- it is critical to build a Medicare benefit that ensures these medications are used safely, appropriately, and are aligned with the patient’s overall care plan. 

On March 23rd, we introduced H.R. 4878, “The Better Care, Lower Cost Act.”  This legislation seeks to improve care coordination for Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions. 

Our bill will encourage and promote the kind of collaboration used in CMM, helping reduce the crippling emotional and economic costs of chronic illnesses in Medicare. 

This briefing will include some of the leading clinical pharmacists in the country, along with the physicians they work alongside, who will describe their practice within team-focused healthcare delivery systems that emphasize collaboration, cooperation, value, and patient outcomes. 

Please join us for this important health care briefing on May 18th.  If you have questions, please contact Matt Gallivan (Rep. Paulsen) or Isaac Loeb (Rep Welch). 

Sincerely

Erik Paulsen                                                Peter Welch

Member of Congress                               Member of Congress