Steven J. Larson

Peer Reviewed: Testing Water Quality for Pesticide Pollution

U.S. GeologicalSurvey investigations reveal widespread contamination of the nations water resources.

Adoption of medication therapy management programs in Minnesota: 2006–11

OBJECTIVE To assess the adoption of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) medication therapy management (MTM) program by patients and pharmacists. DESIGN Descriptive nonexperimental study. SETTING Minnesota DHS MTM program, from 2006 to 2011. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Number of claims, providers, and dollars compensated each year from 2006 to 2011, as well as location of claim submissions and percent of eligible patients served in 2011. RESULTS During 2011, 76 pharmacists were compensated a total of

Comparison of pesticides in eight U.S. urban streams

210,716 for 2,427 claims. Of these claims, 1,009 were initial visits and 1,418 were follow-up visits. In each of the first 6 years of the program, an increase was seen in number of claims, number of pharmacists submitting claims, and dollars compensated. These increases followed exponential curves for total number of claims and dollars compensated with a declining logarithmic curve for pharmacists. From 2010 to 2011, the number of claims and dollars compensated did not increase as much from 2009 to 2010. However, claims data may still increase for 2011 as a result of late submissions. During 2011, the percentage of eligible patients provided services was estimated to be 5.7% to 7.6%. CONCLUSION The continued increase in use indicates that the program has had a successful beginning and promises to serve many more patients. The small percentage of patients reached should increase with subsequent years. Better strategies to recruit patients and pharmacist providers should increase use of the program.