PRESS RELEASE—Medication Management Systems, Inc. (MMS), a leader in medication therapy management (MTM), today announced a new partnership that makes available, for the first time, an integrated software documentation solution to more effectively manage drug therapies and positively impact the quality of life of millions of seniors in the community and long-term care.

The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) Foundation has selected MMS to create a business collaboration that brings together two state-of-the-art software systems:

• The Assurance System™ from MMS provides electronic clinical decision support tools, including up-to-date best practices guides in medication use, robust data analysis and reporting, a therapeutic medication record for each patient, and claims submissions.
• The ASCP Foundation’s Monitor-Rx™ identifies medications that may cause or contribute to common geriatric problems and provides medication-monitoring recommendations to assess and preemptively address potential medication-related problems.

Now a single, fully integrated system, Assurance System Plus Monitor-Rx™ provides pharmacists with the only comprehensive pharmacy practice management system for senior care and consultant pharmacy practice, combining a set of tools to identify potential medication-related problems, track patient encounters and outcomes, maintain compliance with current regulatory requirements, substantiate and manage claims for payment for pharmacist services, and allow for outcome and economic analysis. 

“Assurance System Plus Monitor-Rx™ offers an affordable, hosted software and data management solution that consultant and senior care pharmacists can use to expand the broad range of services they already provide to our most vulnerable citizens,” said Nathan Schultz, Pharm.D., President and COO of MMS. “In addition, this new  clinical practice management tool will enable pharmacists to deliver the quality medication management services that our elderly patients need while also providing the documentation necessary to support both provider communication and  financial reimbursement.” 

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PRESS RELEASE | February 9, 2010

Triple-S Salud, Inc. of Puerto Rico (Triple–S) has become the first health plan on the island of Puerto Rico to embrace the patient–centered medication therapy management (MTM) solutions  provided by Medication Management Systems Puerto Rico, Inc., a wholly–owned subsidiary of Medication Management Systems, Inc. (MMS).

“We are pleased that Triple–S selected us to deliver an innovative MTM service designed to improve health outcomes,” said Nathan Schultz, Pharm.D., President and COO of MMS. “This partnership continues Triple-S’s commitment to innovative solutions which improve patient care. The program we have developed with Triple-S places an emphasis on coordination of care with physicians and integrates the patient care service provided by pharmacists.” 

In Puerto Rico, MMS’s Pharmaceutical Care Practice Network includes specially trained community pharmacists. Launched in January, under the name FarmaOrienta, the network provides Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services to Triple S’s members which includes assessment of all of their medications as well as guidance to ensure that the medications are appropriate, working properly, safe and can be taken as intended. Additionally, and when appropriate, pharmacists will refer patients to physicians for follow-up care.

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PRESS RELEASE | April 27, 2009

Medication Management Systems partnership includes government-sponsored program that reimburses pharmacists for care.

A new U.S./Canadian cross-border partnership will expand access for patients who turn to pharmacists for medication therapy management services. Minneapolis-based Medication Management Systems, Inc. (MMS) has partnered with Medication Management Canada, Inc. (MMC) to adapt MMS’s groundbreaking electronic therapeutic record, the Assurance System™, for the Canadian health care market.

"Our common goal is to improve patient care by rapidly expanding medication therapy management services delivered by pharmacists across Canada," said Linda Strand, PharmD, PhD, DSc (Hon), co-founder and vice president of professional services for MMS. She added, "MMS’s Assurance System™ provides pharmacists a clinical decision support system and electronic therapeutic record to promote common practice standards, document therapeutic outcomes, and improve patient care — the infrastructure pharmacists have needed."

"Pharmacy practice in Canada is becoming more integrated with the patient’s care team, requiring a significant change from the current practice to include new methods and tools," explained Sunny Loo, executive director of MMC. "The benefits of the Assurance System™, as an integral part of this evolving pharmaceutical care role, became apparent and our partnership with MMS puts us in the ideal position to support Canadian pharmacists in meeting this challenge."

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PRESS RELEASE | March 10, 2009

MyMedsManagement^SM program by Medication Management Systems promotes healthy use of medicines; provides on-site help navigating therapies

To combat the growing complexity of drug therapies and improve the use of medications, General Mills is the first employer to offer on-site access to a new individualized care program through Medication Management Systems, Inc. (MMS).

“A first-of-its-kind program, MyMedsManagement^SM underscores General Mills’ commitment to promoting a healthier workforce while tackling high medical costs at the same time,” said Nathan Schultz, Pharm.D., President and COO of MMS.

Jeanne Denz, Director of Global Benefits at General Mills agreed: “The MyMedsManagement^SMprogram provides General Mills employees and their families with a personal pharmacist who will work with them on an ongoing basis to better understand the drugs they are currently taking as well as to resolve any drug therapy problems. This personal relationship with a pharmacist will help participants better achieve therapeutic goals in coordination with physicians and other healthcare providers.”

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PRESS RELEASE | March 18, 2008

A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association documents how medication therapy management (MTM) services, provided by experienced pharmacists using the Assurance Pharmaceutical Care System™, produced both improved clinical outcomes and lower total health care expenditures. Entitled Clinical and Economic Outcomes of Medication Therapy Management Services: The Minnesota Experience (Isetts, et al. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2008;48(2):203-211), the Journal’s Special Feature reports on the effects of face-to-face MTM services in 285 patients with multiple medical conditions and complex drug therapies compared against a similar group of 252 patients who did not receive MTM services. In this collaborative study between Fairview Health Services, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota, Fairview’s pharmacists provided MTM services using a consistent pharmaceutical care process that was guided by and documented in Medication Management Systems’ (MMS) Assurance Pharmaceutical Care System™. 

Patients receiving MTM services demonstrated significant improvement in drug therapy goals achieved, drug problems resolved, and selected Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures improved. In addition, total annual health expenditures were significantly decreased in the MTM patients when measured against the pre-MTM service baseline. The decreased health expenditures resulted in a 12:1 return on investment (ROI) for MTM services. In the study, pharmacist usage of Assurance Pharmaceutical Care System™ was cited as a key contributor to attainment and documentation of improved clinical outcomes and lower total health expenditures.

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PRESS RELEASE | February 27, 2008

Medication Management Systems (MMS), a leading player in medication therapy management throughout the U.S., today announced the appointment of Nathan J. Schultz, Pharm.D. to the newly created executive position of President and Chief Operating Officer.

“The Board of Directors and staff of MMS are honored that Nate has agreed to join in helping us continue to develop new services and technologies that promote efficacy, safety, and adherence in the appropriate use of medications,” said Chairman of the Board David J. McLean, Ph.D. “As a 25-year veteran and recognized innovator in managed care pharmacy and pharmaceutical benefit management, I am confident that Nate will be able to contribute immediately and provide experienced, executive leadership and counsel to both the staff and the Board.”

Dr. Schultz is a clinical pharmacist with over 25 years experience in hospital and academic settings, in addition to his leadership in the managed care pharmacy and pharmacy benefit management arena. Formerly Chief Services Officer of National Medical Health Card Systems, his background includes over 10 years in various leadership positions with Diversified Pharmaceutical Services and Express Scripts, and as Senior Vice President of Sales at Caresoft, Inc., a venture capital-backed internet healthcare company. Founding principal of The BayPine Consultancy, a private practice executive management firm specializing in strategic planning and operations management for healthcare and pharmaceutical-related businesses, he holds both a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Minnesota and is certified as a Pharmacotherapy Specialist by the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties.