August 28, 2024

Pharmacists as Community Health Workers Looking to Provide Telehealth Services to Rural Health Care Providers at NO COST

COUNSELMEDS is looking to partner with a rural healthcare provider to execute a Rural Citizens Access to Telehealth Grant.

COUNSELMEDS is a telehealth service where licensed pharmacists act similar to community health workers but provide additional pharmacy services to Missouri Medicaid patients with chronic and complex conditions. Their team of licensed pharmacists dedicate 1 hour of support services to each eligible Medicaid patient each month (at no cost to healthcare provider of patient).

COUNSELMEDS process includes:

1. Completing an eligibility check to identify Medicaid patients eligible for the service
2. Matching eligible patients with a pharmacist who conducts 1 hours of support services
3. At-risk patients are empowered to lead healthier lives and the healthcare provider receives additional capacity

Services include:

• Counseling on the importance of medication adherence
• Providing medication education
• Supporting patients with challenges with Medicaid coverage
• Coordinating refills
• Developing medication treatment plans
• Coordinating with staff of providers to provide exceptional care
• Coordinating free home delivery
• Monitoring and evaluating response to medication
• Assess physical and mental health status

If you are interested in partnering with COUNSELMEDS, please contact Marcus Howard at:

marcus@greaterhealthpharmacy.com or call 314 497-8553

The above program information is being shared by the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) as a service of this office. ORHPC does not endorse or recommend any vendor or services. Please review for the appropriate use within your organization.

July 25, 2024

Utilization Data – CMS Adds 6 New Procedures to Comparison Tool

Medicare patients are more computer savvy and informed. Medicare continues to provide ways for patients to gain information to make informed decisions about where to obtain their care.

This month the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated the Medicare.gov compare tool pages for physicians and clinicians.

The following new procedures were added to the 12 new procedures released back in January 2024:

• Upper endoscopy
• Arthroscopy – upper extremity
• Arthroscopy – lower extremity
• Varicose vein ablation
• Laminectomy/laminotomy
• Lower limb revascularization

Click Here for the CMS Care Compare – Doctors and Clinicans Initiative page.

Click Here to view the “Find & Compare Providers Near You” page for patients which provides comparisons of physicians, hospitals, nursing home, etc.