AvMed to Offer Medication Therapy Management Program To Seniors.

MIAMI -- Innovative effort helps Medicare members use prescription drugs safely, effectively

An innovative new program that offers Medicare members access to a "personal pharmacist" who evaluates their medications and helps them to use their prescription drugs more safely and effectively is being offered by AvMed Health Plans.

The initiative, called Medication Therapy Management, will be offered to AvMed's Medicare Advantage members in Broward and Dade Counties starting January 1, when the new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan benefit takes effect. There is no cost to AvMed members to participate.

Under the program, Medicare members will be able to meet one-to-one with a designated "personal pharmacist" in their area for a "medication check-up." The pharmacist will review the medications, vitamins and supplements the member is taking and whether the drugs are effective - or whether they are causing complications. These personalized reviews will help ensure that Medicare members are taking their prescription drugs safely and that the drugs being used are effective in treating ailments. These medication check-ups will also help reduce overall prescription drug costs.

Additionally, AvMed will provide more intensive assistance to Medicare members who meet certain criteria for greater prescription drug use -- if they have three or more serious health ailments, take four or more prescription drugs to treat their conditions and are projected to use $4,000 or more in prescription drugs covered under the Medicare Part D benefit.

If any potential problems or cost savings opportunities are discovered during the check-ups, the pharmacist will work with the patient and their doctors to address them. Following the check-up, the pharmacist will provide ongoing services to optimize the patient's medication therapy.

"AvMed is continually looking for ways to better serve our members, and these medication check-ups will offer real value to our Medicare members at no cost to them," said Doug Cueny, AvMed's President and Chief Operating Officer. "By meeting with a personal pharmacist, Medicare members will be able to have the peace of mind that they are taking prescription drugs safely, that they are taking the right drugs for their conditions -- and that they'll save money."

AvMed will partner with Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care of Des Moines, Iowa, to administer the program. Outcomes is "a recognized national leader in the design and delivery of medication therapy management programs," Cueny said, adding that the Midwestern firm had facilitated similar programs in other areas of the country.

"AvMed will be offering one of America's leading Medication Therapy Management programs through Outcomes and we're thrilled to be partnering on this initiative to help seniors with their medications," Cueny said.

About AvMed Health Plans

AvMed Health Plans is Florida's largest not-for-profit health plan, improving access to health care for members for more than 30 years, while serving Florida communities in all major metropolitan areas of the state. Through an extensive broker network, AvMed offers health care coverage on a fully insured and self-funded basis for employer groups in Florida. Additionally, AvMed offers health care products to Medicare Beneficiaries in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in South Florida. Headquartered in Florida, AvMed has offices in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa, Gainesville and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.AvMed.org.