Montana PharmAssist Information

Click Here to download the most recent PharmAssist Training Program materials from the University of Montana. Please sign up now for the upcoming programs on: June 24th in Kalispell, August 19th in Great Falls, and October 14th in Missoula.

PharmAssist CE registration form is in a pdf format (get adobe acrobat reader, if needed), quickly fill it out and fax it in right from work…it will just take a few minutes. Hurry spots are filling quickly! Please fax signed form to:

Answers to some posing questions:
1. You get 6 Free CE credits for the program
2. The program itself is Free!!!
3. You do not have to have proof of Personal Liability Insurance to attend the CE or get certification. You will need Personal Liability Insurance before meeting your first patient.
4. Pharmacies are not reimbursed through the Program; Only Pharmacists are personally reimbursed.
5. The Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Foundation will coordinate a one-to-one counseling session to be performed by a credentialed pharmacist...there will be no charge to the patient.
6. Reimbursement to an individual pharmacist whom is credentialed under the program to perform PharmAssist services will be reimbursed $125.00 for the first consultation and $75.00 for a follow-up...everything is coordinated by Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Foundation.
7. The program is available to ALL Montana citizens- there is no age or income requirments; however, the client to receive the PharmAssist services must be approved by Mountain Pacific Quality Health Foundation.
8. After training for the program at one of these Free CE sessions, that are occuring statewide, you will have your first client contact Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Foundation by calling a 1-866-369-???? "HOTLINE". The client will then receive paperwork to fill out and request you by name, if applicable. You will then be contacted to perform your services and will get reimbursed by the State.
9. The PharmAssist program is nearing its final stages and will be available soon to Montana residents; however, we only have until mid-2009 to get as many pharmacists on board with as many clients seen as possible to have the state evaluate its importance to keep the program.

Resources

1. Get your NPI number today! This will simplify reimbursement for your PharmAssist services and only takes about 5 minutes! You will almost instantaneously receive your NPI number in your email in-box (it may show up in your junk email box). What is an NPI number?

2. You will need to get Personal Liability Insurance...Pharmacist Mutual is a very good option and is endorsed by the Montana Pharmacy Association. If you are an APhA member please contact your member services to see if there is a discount for liability insurance. APhA members Click Here.

The Following letter is from Roger Citron, RPh at DPHHS

The Montana PharmAssist is coming! The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is offering all Montana pharmacists the opportunity to become credentialed to participate in this new program. Based upon the Wyoming PharmAssist (see website below), DPHHS developed the program framework tailored to meet the needs of our Montana residents.

The University of Montana Skaggs School of Pharmacy will offer six hours of free continuing education (CE) to train pharmacists intent on participating in the program. Only credentialed pharmacists may provide and be paid for these cognitive services through the Montana PharmAssist.

Once our credentialed provider base is trained the program will be advertised to the public, with the intent to begin processing requests in July, 2007. Any Montana resident will be eligible to request a consultation through the PharmAssist. The Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Foundation will review these patient applications and then coordinate a one-to-one counseling session to be performed by one of the credentialed pharmacists.

The final rules for this new program are still in work, but DPHHS is planning to utilize personal service contracts for credentialed pharmacists (not pharmacies) to get reimbursed when they provide these services.

As a profession, we must look for innovative ways to get reimbursed for our clinical skills and knowledge.

The Montana PharmAssist is a start. I urge you to consider registering for one of the training sessions to be able to participate in this exciting, innovative program.

Sincerely,
Roger A. Citron, R.Ph.
Montana Medicaid Pharmacist
Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services
(406)444-5951
rcitron@mt.gov

Here is the example of the Wyoming PharmAssist Program Roger had mentioned that the Montana PharmAssist program is modeled after.