Minister of Health values pharmacists but says budgets need to make sense
By Gillian Slade on April 21, 2018.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com @MHNGillianSlade The number of pharmacist medication reviews and assessments has increased nearly 900 per cent in the past five years, according to data supplied by Alberta Health. In 2012, when the previous government introduced compensation to pharmacists for doing comprehensive annual care plans (CACP) and standard medication management assessments (SMMA), a total of 25,214 were done across the province. In the 2016/17 fiscal year, that total increased to 220,379. The pharmacy budget was expected to increase by 12.3 per cent in the next two years, prompting Health Minister Sarah Hoffman to announce a new fee schedule, effective May 17, to reduce that growth to 4.3 per cent. “We really respect and honour that our pharmacists have the broadest scope of practice of anywhere in Canada,” said Hoffman. “We don’t want to change that. We think that their expertise and accessibility in the community is something that is valued and valuable to Albertans, but we do have a responsibility to get some of these areas within their own budget, that were increasing at exorbitant rates, under control.” When the enhanced role of pharmacists was introduced with accompanying compensation in 2012, there was no limit put on the number of CACPs and SMMAs that could be done. “No caps,” said Hoffman. From May 17, the government will pay pharmacists with prescribing authority $100 — rather than $125 — to do a CACP, and there will be a limit of 12 per patient per year. “The next highest cap in the country is at four,” said Hoffman. “So we are still three times higher than any other jurisdiction … in that area. We really do need to do some work to address those outlying behaviours because we deserve to have a sustainable health-care system for all Albertans for future generations.” Medication reviews require pharmacists to complete an online form in order to claim the fee. Whether there is value and quality in the information documented, whether it is helpful to patients, pharmacists and the health-care system, is not clear. Hoffman does not personally get a sampling of completed forms, nor a report. “Alberta pharmacists have the broadest scope of practice compared to pharmacists in other provinces, and Alberta Health continues to work with our health partners to measure the impact of pharmacy services on patients,” said a spokesperson for Alberta Health Friday afternoon. “To ensure care plans are billed appropriately, Alberta Blue Cross works with pharmacy services providers to ensure they are complying with processes and procedures.” Pharmacists of Alberta Unite, with about 20 supporters, held a protest Thursday in Medicine Hat asking Hoffman to reconsider the fee changes. “It feels like we are being reprimanded for relieving the strain off the health-care system,” said Heber Castillo, pharmacist and spokesperson at the event. Considering the cost of health-care services, pharmacists are good value, he said. SMMAs will qualify for a fee of $60 rather than $75 for pharmacists with prescribing authority from May 17. This brings Alberta in line with fees in other provinces, according to information supplied by Hoffman’s office. Alberta Blue Cross, as the government’s administrator, processes more than $1.6 billion in pharmacy claims annually, according to a government document. 17
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ery simply you are not qualified to be a provincial Minister of Health let alone comment on matters that you have never directly been involved in. Sarah stop worrying about pennies when dollars are what you should be concerned with. Of course there would be a increase in Professional Services. In 2012 when this reimbursement started there were ZERO dollars invested in this. What did the government expect to happen? Just one CACP where none was done before is a 100% increase! The NET cost to the government is still less. Less because this money was to come from the “savings” from the generic deflation. Not new money or additional money, but money diverted from one spend to another. Also, Professional Services, when done properly, should be considered as an investment into health prevention and wellness promotion that will save money in other areas and treatment later on. Yes, compensation may now be more in line with other provinces on the surface, BUT Sarah if you bothered to actually get involved and come to meet with Pharmacy staff and see what we do day to day day in and day out, you would hopefully come to realize what you are saying are mere words in your continual tired and meaningless talking points. You must also look at responsibility, Scope of Practice, liability and most importantly results. You must look and compare everything from Pharmacy compensation from province to province and not just cherry pick this point and that point. Isn’t it wonderful that generic prices are now lower, but what difference does that make when these drugs are no longer available or can’t be sourced. When generic usage, which now accounts for 80% of the prescriptions dispensed but accounts for only 20% of prescription costs, decreases or is gone, what is left? Much more expensive brand name drugs! Patients who were once stabilized on a treatment may now have to be switched to something else. This may involve more doctors visits to change and restabilize. What if a patient suffers from an ADR due to this change? Hospital visits? Lab tests? So you saved your budget $150 million over two years! This will surely go a long way to helping with the tens of BILLIONS of dollars the government is in the red. Right? Again let’s worry about pennies while dollars are being wasted. Sarah get out of from under the dome, spend time in pharmacies. Show the tax payers of Alberta why YOU, yes you Sarah are paid more than YOUR counterparts in other provinces. If your opinion and talking points still have not changed, then you have either gone to the wrong Pharmacy, or you are as truly ignorant as you appear to be!! Then maybe the premier should look at lowering your compensation to be “more in line with other provinces”.