As you may have heard, CMS released a preview of the 2016 Medicare Part C & D Star Ratings (see attached) to Part D plan sponsors, which included the Star Rating cut points for the new Part D Star measure—MTM Program Completion Rate for Comprehensive Medication Reviews (CMRs). As performance expectations heighten with the release of this new data, pharmacies with limited resources may begin to look at outsourcing MTM opportunities to a vendor.

A new monthly webinar series from APCI will address timely topics important to independent pharmacies.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), through the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) and the American Geriatric Society, has identified certain medications that increase the risk for serious adverse events in patients 65 and older. To ensure the appropriate use of these potentially dangerous medications, Health Partners Medicare (HPM) has placed a prior authorization (PA) requirement on these medications for members 65 and older.

Below is a list of these medications and a safer alternative that does not require a PA. The full formularies, including prior authorization forms, can be found under the Prescription Drugs section of our website, http://medicare.healthpartnersplans.com/