Rite Aid Pharmacist and Director of Field Clinical Services Testifies Before US House on Value of Medication Therapy Management

PRESS RELEASE

CAMP HILL, Pa. (Oct. 21, 2015) - Emphasizing Rite Aid's commitment to patient care, Jesse McCullough, a registered pharmacist and Rite Aid's director of field clinical services, testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health during its hearing titled, "Examining the Medicare Part D Medication Therapy Management Program."

McCullough's testimony focused on the importance of medication therapy services in improving the health of senior Americans as well as recent progress in advancing the program and opportunities to improve its utilization in the future, including the introduction and passing of legislation (S. 776, the Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act) that would expand access to medication therapy management services for people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, COPD, and high cholesterol.

Defined as a service or group of services that optimize therapeutic outcomes for individual patients, medication therapy management services (MTM) include medication therapy reviews, pharmacotherapy consults, medication management, immunizations, health and wellness programs and other clinical services.

"Rite Aid has participated in MTM programs since their inception, and we have helped thousands of patients get more out of MTM to optimize their medication therapy," stated McCullough. "The fact of the matter is that we can do more."

McCullough explained how community pharmacists present an optimal solution for expanding the Medicare Part D MTM program. As one of the most accessible healthcare providers, community pharmacists are in a unique position to provide MTM services through regular interactions with their patients, by actively managing drug therapy and by identifying, preventing, and resolving medication-related problems.

Additionally, McCullough cited the possible cost savings for the U.S. healthcare system that could be realized through the expansion of the Medicare Part D MTM program noting that, "poor medication adherence alone costs the nation approximately $290 billion annually - 13 percent of total healthcare expenditures - and results in avoidable and costly health complications."

In closing, McCullough thanked the subcommittee for the opportunity to participate in the discussion surrounding opportunities to expand the Medicare Part D MTM program and reaffirmed the Company as a resource as Congress explores ways in which it can improve the health of senior Americans and the country's healthcare system.