Medication Management: The Role of the Care Manager

From ensuring medication safety and compliance, to identifying ways to keep medication costs affordable, care managers play an important role when it comes to medication management.

As health care advocates, we work closely with prescribing physicians to communicate important information such as health and functional status, known allergies, and other medications and supplements being taken. In our often fragmented health care system, the care manager can ensure that multiple health care providers are communicating, and working with the same information.

In the home, we ensure that physicians' and pharmacists' orders and special instructions are included in the care plan, providing assistance with medication set-up by the care manager or medication reminders by the in-home caregiver as needed.

And as clinicians, we can spot possible medication-related problems early, detecting potential issues and addressing them with the physician or pharmacy. Our consulting geriatric pharmacist is available to provide expert medication review, and can follow up with providers regarding recommended changes. Should new side-effects or symptoms arise, we can follow up right away, to help prevent serious medication-related problems.

Medicare's Open Enrollment period is fast approaching (October 15 - December 7), and this is another area where care managers provide an invaluable service to our clients. During this annual opportunity for Medicare enrollees to change their health plan and prescription drug coverage for 2014, care managers are available to talk with their clients and their families about their current coverage, and review their options for prescription drug coverage. When necessary, we'll work with local insurance specialists, or bring in our consulting pharmacist for recommendations. With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the forthcoming opening of the state's health benefit exchange, Covered California, we're prepared with the information and resources we need to support our clients in making sound decisions about their health insurance coverage.