Medicare Adds New Long-Term Care Pharmacy Rules

New Medicare long-term care (LTC) pharmacy rules require that pharmacists review LTC facility residents’ medical charts as well as conduct monthly drug regimen reviews (DRR). The new rules also restrict the use of psychotropic medications.

These rules on LTC pharmacy were released in “Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities,” which established new conditions of participation for LTC facilities. The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the new rules in early October 2016. The provisions related to pharmacy services for LTC residents are as follows:

The existing requirement for monthly DRR . . .