Pharmacy Today 

About: Pharmacy Today is an academic journal published by Elsevier BV. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Pharmacy. It has an ISSN identifier of 1042-0991. Over the lifetime, 1146 publications have been published receiving 2719 citations.

Department of health & human services

Abstract: Vision for Transformation Strengths: The SHSIP describes a holistic transformation plan and ensures connections between various plan components. The State’s Plan seeks to reward health care providers for better care, smarter spending, and healthier people through higher quality, instead of quantity of services by utilizing valuebased purchasing across public and private payers. The SHSIP provides a well-detailed description of the proposed value-based models of care through the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model, resulting in the statewide implementation of Accountable Health Communities (AHCs). The SHSIP outlines a long-term vision of building and expanding the PCMH model into a Community Centered Health Homes (CCHHs) model, which will focus on prevention and collaboration with other communitybased organizations. Another strength identified is the amount of existing PCMHs operating within the State. The SHSIP provides a course of action to assist non-PCMH practices to become nationally certified, as well as, goals for a single, statewide PCMH model to be used by all providers and payers within the state. The implementation of the AHCs will be key in addressing social determinants of health within various communities and seems to align well with the PCMH goals. This focus on population and community health will enable the State to make a broader impact and support the long-term goal of moving towards a CCHH model. The focus on the improvement of clinical, behavioral, and oral health care within the urban, rural, and frontier communities is well aligned and consistent with the SIM goals and the overall Triple Aim initiative. Figure 18: Driver Diagram clearly shows how the State plans to achieve the Triple Aim by 2020.

New: Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs: An Interactive Approach to Self-Care

Abstract: This is the gold-standard on self-care and non-prescription products! This book uses an evidence-based approach to establish the safety and effectiveness of self-care options for particular disorders. Thoroughly updated and revised with seven new chapters, this edition reflects recent FDA rulings and continues to emphasize communication and information-gathering skills. It features treatment algorithms, new assessment cases studies, and patient counseling information for each disorder.

Understanding health care billing basics

Abstract: Objective To provide pharmacists a basic understanding of health care billing and current opportunities for generating revenue for their patient care services. Data Primary data source is CMS, as Medicare billing processes are viewed by the industry as the U.S. standard for health care billing. Summary The current U.S. health care billing process for patient care services is a complex and difficult system for many to fully grasp, especially pharmacists who are relatively new to generating revenue for patient care services. Health care billing is challenging for varied reasons, including multiple payers; nuances of the locations where services may be provided (i.e., institutional vs. noninstitutional); variation in state laws and regulations; and the legislative process, with regulations that change or are updated frequently, often yearly. Adding to the complexity is that health care billing has its own language of terms and abbreviations that, if not understood, impede billing discussions and interpretation of rules and regulations. Although health care billing models are moving away from fee-for-service to value-based payment models, it is important to understand the basics of the current model. The transition is not likely to completely overhaul the current system but over time to build on much of the current infrastructure as a starting point for the new billing models. This article provides the basics of health care billing and explains the particular details and processes pharmacists need to know to generate revenue for their services. Conclusion Although pharmacists have yet to universally establish themselves as health care providers able to bill payers in federal and state programs, they have the opportunity to work as auxiliary personnel under an eligible provider who may bill for a pharmacist's services. Thus, pharmacists are capable of generating revenue. The process remains complex and requires a clear understanding of the rules and regulations.

Pharmacist-administered immunizations: What does your state allow?

Abstract: As trusted and highly accessible health care providers, pharmacists are well positioned to increase the public's access to immunizations. The use of pharmacists to administer immunizations has evolved rapidly over the past 2 decades. In 1995, only nine states allowed pharmacists to immunize. Today, pharmacists have authority to administer immunizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.1,2 Although the extent of pharmacists' authority varies by state, great progress has been made in modernizing states' scope of practice laws and regulations to allow pharmacists to increase immunization rates across the lifespan, while working in coordination and collaboration with the rest of the immunization neighborhood.