FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shelly Spiro
703-599-5051; shelly@PharmacyHIT.org
March 7, 2019
Pharmacy Value Sets Public Comments Requested
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – The Pharmacy HIT Collaborative released a revised draft version of pharmacy value sets and is requesting comments from stakeholders. Previously, Pharmacy HIT Collaborative value sets were maintained and distributed using a PDF document. In an effort to enhance portability, the value sets are now accessible on an online database platform. Pharmacy value sets on the updated platform can be accessed by this link. Clinicians, administrators, health information technology (IT) professionals, and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to review the value sets and provide feedback, as illustrated in this instruction video.
“These value sets are designed to support standardized documentation, exchange, and reporting of clinical pharmacy data and patient outcomes across all practice settings, regardless of which software system is used to capture the data,” said Shelly Spiro, executive director, Pharmacy HIT Collaborative.
This initial release of pharmacy value sets are being implemented by pharmacy management system vendors using the Pharmacist eCare Plan and Medicare Part D plans participating in the Medicare Part D Enhanced MTM Model. “These programs are driving implementation of SNOMED CT and other health IT standards within the pharmacy profession and stimulating widespread adoption across the country,” said Spiro.
Updates to the value sets are part of the continuous maintenance process managed by the Collaborative to ensure codes are available to document problems, interventions, outcomes, and other clinical information required to study pharmacist-provided services impact on outcomes and cost. “Demonstrating superior outcomes at the local or regional level, with payers involved, is vital to establishing value-based payment models for pharmacists,” said Samm Anderegg, project manager, Pharmacy HIT Collaborative.
The 60-day comment period begins 3/7/2019 and closes 5/6/2019. All comments will be reviewed and considered prior to the publication of the revised version value sets. The most current version of value sets are also accessible from the Value Set Authority Center (VSAC) hosted by the National Library of Medicine (NLM).
About SNOMED CT
SNOMED CT is a coding terminology used for clinical documentation and a federally recognized standard for health information technology in the United States. SNOMED CT codes are used for patient care data, including general findings, problems, interventions, and outcomes. Codes are organized into value sets, or unique groups of codes, to aid implementation into electronic systems and support effective health information exchange and quality reporting.
About the Pharmacy HIT Collaborative
The Pharmacy HIT Collaborative is a coalition of nine professional pharmacy associations and additional stakeholders representing the pharmacy profession in all matters related to health information technology.
Implementation resources are available on the Resource Center page of the Pharmacy HIT Collaborative website (https://pharmacyhit.org/index.php/links).