Members Overwhelmingly Approve New AMCP Mission
AMCP's active members (pharmacists) have approved a new Academy mission statement. The mission statement, developed by AMCP's Board of Directors in February 1999, addresses the dramatic changes in the health care environment, particularly in managed care. It emphasizes the patient-centered focus of AMCP and its advocacy of public health and managed care pharmacy, and it updates the Academy's 1993 mission statement. The new mission statement, now part of the Academy's bylaws, reads:

The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) is a professional association of pharmacists and associates who serve patients and the public through the promotion of wellness and rational drug therapy by the application of managed care principles.

The mission of AMCP is to serve as an organization through which the membership pursues its common goals; to provide leadership and support for its members; to represent its members before private and public agencies and health care professional organizations; and to advance pharmacy practice in managed care health systems.

Concept Papers approved
The AMCP Board of Directors has approved two new concept papers that explain critical principles within managed care pharmacy: drug use evaluation (DUE) and pharmacist cognitive services. These papers are educational statements designed to describe important pharmacy concepts and practices in managed care settings. AMCP has approved a total of six concept papers as part of its commitment to educate other health professionals, policymakers, and the public.

DUE is an ongoing, systematic pro-cess designed to ensure appropriate and effective drug use. It involves a complete review of a patient's prescription and medication data before, during, and after dispensing to assure appropriate drug therapy and positive patient results. Pharmacists participating in DUE programs can improve the quality of care for patients � individually and as populations � by preventing the use of un-necessary or inappropriate drug therapy and by preventing adverse drug reactions. In addition, pharmacists who participate in DUE exert "a positive influence on physician prescribing," the paper said.

Managed health care systems and pharmacy benefit management companies (PBMs) manage medication use for millions of patients. DUE programs play a key role in helping these organizations understand, interpret, and improve prescribing, administration, and use of medications. DUE programs also provide physicians with feedback on their performance and prescribing behaviors compared to established criteria or treatment protocols.

DUE information also assists managed health care systems and PBMs in designing educational programs that improve prescribing, formulary compliance, and patient compliance. These programs may involve face-to-face education of physicians and patients by pharmacists, telephone calls, letters, newsletters, and educational meetings.

Pharmacists' cognitive services are patient-oriented activities that focus on improving drug therapy. These services include educating patients about their diseases and drug therapies, evaluating the appropriateness of therapies, directing patient care programs, and managing drug therapy by working collaboratively with physicians. AMCP encourages pharmacists to provide cognitive services that meet patients' drug-related needs and improve patient care.

With the advent of managed care, the pharmacist's role has changed dramatically. Pharmacists' responsibilities have grown beyond just dispensing; they use inical knowledge and specialized skills to help patients better manage their health care and help physicians address the complexities of drug therapy. Pharmacists must now help assure the appropriateness, safety, effectiveness, and convenience of the patient's drug regimen.

Although pharmacists have delivered cognitive services for many years, only recently has the profession begun to document the value of these services and obtain payor reimbursement. This is in large part due to the gradual recognition by managed health care systems and payors that pharmacists � delivering consistent, effective cognitive services � can improve patient outcomes and significantly reduce health care costs.

The concept papers are available at www.amcp.org/public/pubs/concepts or by fax-on-demand, 800-964-9648, #1304 (DUE) and #1305 (cognitive services).

Ketcham named Director of Industry Relations
Barbara Ketcham has joined AMCP as director of industry relations and exhibits. In this newly created position, Ketcham coordinates industry sponsorship of AMCP activities, oversees AMCP's exhibit program, and acts as liaison with the pharmaceutical industry.

Ketcham came to AMCP from the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP), where she served for 13 years as director of conference operations and corporate liaison. While there, she developed AAHP's successful industry relations and exhibits programs. Before that, Ketcham worked for seven years in the hotel and hospitality industry where she focused on sales, marketing, and convention operations.

"AMCP is extremely happy to have Barbara join the AMCP team with her excellent background in both managed care and industry relations," said AMCP Executive Director Judith Cahill.