Research on pharmacist-led medication reviews
Every figure on this site links to its source. These are the studies, and the rules, behind our work.
Key findings
Published research by other teams, not Clarity Med's own results. Settings and study designs differ, so results don't transfer directly.
- In a small US study of 15 adults with developmental disabilities in Michigan group homes, pharmacist reviews found 2.4 medication problems per person (J Am Pharm Assoc, 2020).
- One large US health system's medication therapy management program estimated $1.29 saved for every $1 spent over 10 years; savings in other settings may differ (J Manag Care Pharm, 2010).
- In UK care homes where pharmacists could prescribe, about half of residents had a medicine stopped, and 94% of those changes were still in place six months later. In California, a consultant pharmacist recommends changes and the prescriber decides (BMC Health Serv Res, 2021).
What studies of pharmacist medication reviews found
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In-home comprehensive medication reviews for adults with intellectual or developmental disability
In a 2020 study published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, a pharmacist found 2.4 medication problems per person in Michigan group homes. The most common were medications with no indication and untreated conditions, and all three pharmacist calls to prescribers were accepted. Pilot study, 15 people
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Associations between chronic disease, polypharmacy and medication-related problems among Medicare beneficiaries
A 2019 Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy study of 27,765 Medicare members eligible for medication therapy management found that each additional medication raised the odds of a medication-related problem by about 10%, and people taking 11 or more medications were 1.86 times as likely to have one. US, one Part D plan, 2015 data
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Clinical, economic and humanistic outcomes of medication therapy management services: a systematic review and meta-analysis
A 2023 Frontiers in Pharmacology review of 81 studies (60,753 people) linked MTM to lower odds of hospital readmission (odds ratio 0.78), emergency visits (0.88) and adverse drug events (0.68). Economic and quality-of-life results were weaker, and results varied between studies. Systematic review, 81 studies
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Pharmacist services in nursing homes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
A 2019 British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology review of 52 studies (30,376 residents) found pharmacist-led services reduced the number of falls among nursing home residents. Effects on mortality, hospitalization and admissions were mixed. Systematic review, 52 studies
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Opportunity awaits: comprehensive medication management for adults with developmental disabilities living in the community
A 2026 Journal of the American Pharmacists Association article making the case for consultant pharmacists in group homes and other community settings.
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Psychotropic drug prescribing in people with intellectual disability
A 2015 BMJ study found psychotropic medications were prescribed far more often than mental illness was recorded: 49% of people with intellectual disability had been prescribed one, but only 21% had a recorded mental illness. That gap is why regular psychotropic review matters.
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Care homes' use of medicines study (CHUMS): medication errors in care homes for older people
A 2009 study in Quality and Safety in Health Care found 69.5% of care-home residents had one or more medication errors, with an average of 1.9 errors per resident, across prescribing, monitoring, dispensing and administration.
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Medication therapy management: 10 years of experience in a large integrated health care system
A 2010 Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy study reported 38,631 drug therapy problems resolved and an estimated $1.29 saved for every $1 spent.
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Process evaluation for the Care Homes Independent Pharmacist Prescriber Study (CHIPPS)
In UK care homes, pharmacist prescribers stopped a medicine for about half of residents, and 93.8% of changes were still in place at six months. BMC Health Services Research, 2021
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Medication therapy management in a chronically ill population
A 2013 CMS evaluation found Medicare patients with heart failure or COPD in medication therapy management programs were more likely to stay on evidence-based medications, especially after a comprehensive medication review. Those with heart failure had slightly fewer hospitalizations and ER visits.
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Pharmacist-led medication reviews: a scoping review of systematic reviews
A 2024 PLoS One review found mixed evidence overall. The highest-quality reviews showed better detection of medicine-related problems and a modest drop in hospital readmissions (risk ratio 0.93), with no effect on mortality.
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US emergency department visits for outpatient adverse drug events, 2013–2014
A 2016 JAMA study estimated about 4 ED visits per 1,000 people each year for adverse drug events; 27% of those visits led to hospital admission.
Rules that require pharmacist oversight
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42 CFR 483.45: pharmacy services in nursing facilities
A licensed pharmacist must review each nursing facility resident's drug regimen at least once a month.
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42 CFR 483.460(j): drug regimen review in ICF/IID
A pharmacist, with input from the interdisciplinary team, must review each person's drug regimen at least quarterly.
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17 CCR § 54327: special incident reporting by vendors
California regional center vendors must report any medication error to the regional center immediately, and no later than 24 hours after learning of it. Operative May 1, 2026.
Research findings are not a guarantee of results. Regulatory summaries are for orientation; always check the current text.
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