1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to medical assistance; requiring medical
1.3 	assistance to cover medication therapy management
1.4 	services; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, section
1.5 	256B.0625, by adding a subdivision.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 256B.0625, is
1.8 	amended by adding a subdivision to read:
1.9 		Subd. 13h.Medication therapy management care. (a)
1.10 	Medical assistance covers medication therapy management
1.11 	services.  For purposes of this subdivision, "medication therapy
1.12 	management" means the provision of the following pharmaceutical
1.13 	care services by a licensed pharmacist to optimize the
1.14 	therapeutic outcomes of the patient's medications:
1.15 	(1) performing or obtaining necessary assessments of the
1.16 	patient's health status;
1.17 	(2) formulating a medication treatment plan;
1.18 	(3) selecting, initiating, modifying, or administering
1.19 	medication therapy;
1.20 	(4) monitoring and evaluating the patient's response to
1.21 	therapy, including safety and effectiveness;
1.22 	(5) performing a comprehensive medication review to
1.23 	identify, resolve, and prevent medication-related problems,
1.24 	including adverse drug events;
1.25 	(6) documenting the care delivered and communicating
2.1 	essential information to the patient's other primary care
2.2 	providers;
2.3 	(7) providing verbal education and training designed to
2.4 	enhance patient understanding and appropriate use of the
2.5 	patient's medications;
2.6 	(8) providing information, support services, and resources
2.7 	designed to enhance patient adherence with the patient's
2.8 	therapeutic regimens; and 
2.9 	(9) coordinating and integrating medication therapy
2.10 	management services within the broader health care management
2.11 	services being provided to the patient.
2.12 	Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to expand or
2.13 	modify the scope of practice of the pharmacist as defined in
2.14 	section 151.01, subdivision 27.
2.15 	(b) For the purposes of reimbursement for medication
2.16 	therapy management, the commissioner may enroll individual
2.17 	pharmacists as medical assistance providers and shall seek to
2.18 	ensure that participating pharmacists represent all geographic
2.19 	regions of the state.
2.20 	(c) The commissioner, after receiving recommendations from
2.21 	professional medical associations, professional pharmacy
2.22 	associations, and consumer groups shall establish a nine-member
2.23 	Medication Therapy Management Advisory Committee, to advise the
2.24 	commissioner on the implementation and administration of
2.25 	medication therapy management services and the development of
2.26 	eligibility criteria for enrollees and providers.  The committee
2.27 	shall be comprised of:  two licensed physicians; two licensed
2.28 	pharmacists; two consumer representatives; and three members
2.29 	with expertise in the area of medication therapy management, who
2.30 	may be licensed physicians or licensed pharmacists.  The
2.31 	committee is governed by section 15.059, except that committee
2.32 	members do not receive compensation or reimbursement for
2.33 	expenses.
2.34 	(d) The commissioner shall evaluate the effect of
2.35 	medication therapy management on quality of care, patient
2.36 	outcomes, and program costs and shall report to the legislature
3.1 	by December 15, 2007.  The commissioner may contract with a
3.2 	vendor or an academic institution that has expertise in
3.3 	evaluating health care outcomes for the purpose of completing
3.4 	the evaluation.