Reform’s Effect on Hospital Pharmacies

The Accountable Care Act includes provisions to reduce payments for excessive hospital readmissions. Confusion over medications and inappropriate medication administration often are primary reasons for readmissions.

Consequently, hospitals must increase their focus on medication management across the continuum of care, according to IMA Consulting of Chadds Ford, Pa., which specializes in health care performance improvement. Hospitals should implement a pharmacist-driven program that includes medication reconciliation at admission and discharge, the consultancy says in a recent newsletter that explores pharmacy-related portions of the health care reform law.

The pharmacy also must better coordinate with discharge planners, particularly for patients on warfarin, low molecular weight heparin, insulin, blood glucose monitoring, IV antibiotics and anti-hypertensives.

To access the newsletter, click here.

--Joseph Goedert