Consultant pharmacist and MTM FAQ

Medication therapy management (MTM) is a pharmacist service that reviews all of a person's medications, finds what isn't working, and follows up until each problem is resolved. It usually includes a comprehensive medication review, an up-to-date medication list, a written action plan and recommendations to the prescriber. These are the core elements of MTM described by the American Pharmacists Association and NACDS. How Clarity Med provides MTM.

Anyone taking five or more medications, seeing several prescribers, recently discharged from a hospital or emergency department, or having new falls, confusion, sleepiness or behavior changes. People taking psychotropic, blood-thinning, diabetes or seizure medications are especially good candidates, because small changes in those medications can have large effects.

A pharmacist goes through every medication the person takes, including over-the-counter products and supplements, and checks each one against their diagnoses, lab results and how they're doing day to day. You receive a written summary of findings, an up-to-date medication list and a short action plan. Any change goes to the prescriber as a recommendation, and the prescriber decides.

Every current medication, or clear photos of the labels, including over-the-counter products, vitamins and supplements. Also helpful: a list of prescribers and pharmacies, recent lab results, any hospital discharge papers, and the questions you want answered. Care homes should add the current medication administration record (MAR). Share records only through the secure method your pharmacist sets up, not by regular email.

Often, yes. Medicare drug plans must offer an MTM program, and people who qualify get it at no cost. Eligibility depends on having several chronic conditions, taking several Part D medications and having yearly drug costs above a threshold Medicare sets (CMS, 2025). Call the number on your drug plan card to ask whether you qualify. If you don't, or you want a more detailed review with follow-up, you can work with an independent pharmacist.

Yes, in California. Clarity Med reviews medications for individuals and families as well as care organizations, and with your consent sends recommendations to each prescriber. Fees depend on the scope of the review, and you'll get a quote before anything starts. How reviews for individuals work.

No. You can contact Clarity Med directly. Prescribers stay in charge: with your consent, we send them our recommendations and they make any changes.

Yes. Many reviews can be done by video or phone anywhere in California, with records shared through a secure method. In-person visits depend on location; Clarity Med is based in San Diego.

At the counter, a pharmacist answers questions about the prescription being filled. A comprehensive medication review looks at everything together, including medications from other pharmacies and prescribers, supplements and lab results, and ends with a written plan and follow-up.

Polypharmacy means taking many medications at the same time, often defined as five or more (WHO, 2019). Many people need several medications, but each one added raises the chance of interactions, side effects and mistakes, which is why regular pharmacist review matters.

Deprescribing is the planned, supervised reduction or stopping of medications that may no longer help or may cause harm. The prescriber leads it, usually step by step with monitoring, and a pharmacist's review often identifies which medications to consider first.

Usually not by law. Federal rules require a pharmacist to review each nursing facility resident's drug regimen at least monthly, and each ICF/IID resident's at least quarterly. Adult residential facilities and assisted living (RCFE) generally have no equivalent requirement, even though residents often take just as many medications. See the regulations.

At least quarterly. Federal ICF/IID rules (42 CFR 483.460(j)) require a pharmacist, with input from the interdisciplinary team, to review each person's drug regimen every quarter. This applies to California ICF/DD, ICF/DD-H and ICF/DD-N homes certified under those rules.

Yes. Under Title 17, section 54327 (operative May 1, 2026), regional center vendors must report any medication error to the regional center immediately, and no later than 24 hours after learning of it, followed by a written report.

In licensed community care, staff assist residents with medications the residents self-administer, following each prescriber's directions and the facility's procedures (22 CCR § 80075). Direct care staff in regional-center-funded homes must also complete two 35-hour competency-based training courses (W&I § 4695.2), and the Direct Support Professional Training includes medication assistance. A pharmacist can train staff and check their competency on top of those requirements.

Title 22 requires each as-needed (PRN) dose to be recorded with the date, time, dose and the resident's response, and centrally stored medications to be kept in a safe, locked place (22 CCR § 80075). Most homes also keep a medication administration record (MAR) for every dose, alongside current prescriber orders. A quarterly self-review helps catch gaps before a licensing visit.

A drug regimen review is the record review federal rules require in nursing facilities, at least monthly, and in ICF/IID homes, at least quarterly; the pharmacist reports irregularities to the facility and prescriber (see the regulations). A comprehensive medication review is the core of MTM: a review done with the person or caregiver that ends with a medication list and an action plan. Clarity Med provides both.

Records are handled under HIPAA and California confidentiality law, with a business associate agreement where required. Reports are aggregate unless individual detail is authorized.

No. Please don't include names, diagnoses or other health details in the contact form. Once we're working together, we set up a secure way to share records.

Yes, where HIPAA requires one. Before any records are shared, we agree a secure way to exchange them, and we handle them under HIPAA and California's Confidentiality of Medical Information Act.