Positioning and integrating medication therapy management

Objectives: To summarize findings from medication therapy management (MTM) "environmental scans" conducted from 2007 through 2010, interpret findings from the environmental scans using insights gained from the Future of MTM Roundtable convened in October 2010, and propose ideas for future positioning and integrating of MTM programs in the U.S. health care system. Methods: Data for the environmental scans were collected from purposive samples of MTM pharmacist providers and MTM payers throughout the United States using self-administered online surveys in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. Results: Based on the findings, it appears that MTM is becoming more developed and that some aspects of MTM have become established within the organizations that are providing and paying for these programs. However, the findings also revealed that a need exists to better integrate MTM between organizations and patients serviced (business-to-consumer relationships), between partnering organizations (business-to-business relationships), and between collaborating practitioners (peer-to-peer relationships). Conclusion: The findings suggest that a "channel of distribution" is emerging in which organizational relationships and cost efficiencies will be important considerations in the near term. We propose that applying (1) customer portfolio management and (2) transaction cost economics would help improve positioning and integrating MTM into the U.S. health care system.