-- Medication Misuse Expert, Dr. J. Lyle Bootman, To Guide Coalition's Efforts --
-- P3C Applauds Unanimous Decision by Medicare Conferees to Include Provisions for
Medication Therapy Management Services --

BALTIMORE, December 3, 2003 - Pharmacists for the Protection of Patient Care (P3C), a coalition group of pharmacists and advocates nationwide, officially announced its formation today. The group's goal is to advance the quality of care that patients receive by promoting the role of the pharmacist at the federal policy level. P3C applauds the unanimous agreement made by the federal Medicare Conference Committee earlier this month in which Medicare plans must include provisions enabling patients' access to Medication Therapy Management Services (MTMS) provided by pharmacists. P3C will educate lawmakers and the public on the direct benefits to patients' quality of life that result from pharmacists' more intensive involvement in case management and drug therapies where multiple medications are prescribed.

Guiding the coalition's efforts is J. Lyle Bootman, Ph.D., dean at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, Professor of Pharmacy, Medicine, and Public Health and Executive Director of the Center for Health Outcomes and PharmacoEconomic (HOPE) Research. Dr. Bootman first brought the effects of medication misuse to international attention with the landmark study "Drug Morbidity and Mortality: A Cost of Illness Model," published in American Medical Association's Archives of Internal Medicine in October 1995. Medication misuse occurs when patients take medicine in a way that differs from the recommended prescribed dose or instruction. It is estimated that the misuse of medication claims more than 218,000 lives per year and costs the United States $177.4 billion annually in avoidable heath care costs, according to updated report, published in the March/April 2001 issue of The Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association.

All 17 federal legislators assigned to the Medicare Conference Committee unanimously agreed on September 9th that new Medicare plans must include programs that provide MTMS by pharmacy providers for use by Medicare beneficiaries who have multiple chronic conditions, use multiple medications and/or are likely to incur high drug costs. The agreement acknowledges that MTMS programs ensure the appropriate use of drugs which directly and positively affect therapeutic outcomes and compliance, as well as reduce the risk of medication misuse. Additionally, the conferees ratified that Medicare plans must take into account MTMS initiatives when determining reimbursements for pharmacists.

"Pharmacists for the Protection of Patient Care is delighted that the Medicare Conference Committee collectively agreed to enable seniors access to medication therapy management services," commented Dr. J. Lyle Bootman, chairman for P3C. "This is an important step for Medicare recipients and the pharmacy profession alike. It demonstrates that Federal policy makers acknowledge that pharmacists provide vital services that can enhance patient care while tackling medication misuse. P3C will make sure that legislators understand the health and financial benefits our nation will gain from pharmacists challenging medication misuse, if pharmacists are given the opportunity to use their skills to do more than just fill prescriptions."

Joining Dr. Bootman as advisory board members are:

• Bruce Berger, Ph.D., head and professor of Pharmacy Care Systems, Auburn University;
• Jack Fincham, Ph.D., dean and professor of Pharmacy Practice, University of Kansas School of Pharmacy;
• Ralph Small, Pharm.D., professor of Pharmacy and Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University;
• Dorothy L. Smith, Pharm.D., president and CEO, Consumer Health Information Corporation.

Efforts are also well underway to generate support for and advance P3C's mission from among the United States' 196,000-plus pharmacists, as well as patient advocates and other health professionals. For more information on how to join, visit www.p3care.org.

"It is a victory for the pharmacy vocation and senior citizens that the Medicare Conference Committee has recognized that the outcomes of putting measures in place that tackle medication misuse are healthier patients and reduced spending on healthcare," commented Dorothy L. Smith, Pharm.D., president and CEO, Consumer Health Information Corporation and advisory board member of P3C. "When pharmaceutical and medical communities work together to deliver programs that provide patients with information and tools they need to manage their medications wisely, our country's citizens benefit from decreasing unnecessary medical costs across the board and enhanced care for patients."

Medication misuse often results in health problems of an even greater magnitude than the ailments the medications were prescribed to treat. The United States pays $177.4 billion a year in avoidable health care costs according to a study in The Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (March/April 2001). The study concluded that, in one year, the misuse of medication resulted in:

• 9.61 million hospital admissions, costing $121.5 billion
• 18.7 million emergency room visits, costing $5.8 billion
• 3.45 million nursing home admissions, costing $32.8 billion
• 126.8 million physician visits, costing $13.8 billion
• 83.7 million additional prescriptions, costing $3.52 billion

About Pharmacists for the Protection of Patient Care (P3C)
Pharmacists for the Protection of Patient Care (P3C) is a not-for-profit group whose mission is to ensure federal healthcare reform legislation directly addresses the nationwide health and cost-critical implications of medication misuse, supports the patient's individual right to choose health care providers, and promotes the vital role of pharmacists in advancing the quality of patient care. P3C was formed by Medicine-On-Time, one of the nation's leading providers of prescription drug compliance systems, and the organization's founders are the primary lobbyists for P3C. To learn more about P3C and medication misuse, visit www.p3care.org.

About Consumer Health Information Corporation
Consumer Health Information Corporation (www.consumer-health.com) is internationally recognized for its innovative patient information programs. The company develops patient education and consumer awareness programs on medication use and disease management. They have produced a broad range of award-winning print and audiovisual programs that have helped millions of people learn to make wise decisions about their health and medications. Clients include pharmaceutical companies, consumer organizations and Fortune 500 companies, national health care and professional associations, managed care organizations, insurance companies, and pharmacies. The company is a teaching site for several schools of pharmacy across the United States and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council on Patient Information and Education.