GTMRx News Brief Archive

Pharmacist-led CMM improves outcomes in hypertension study Pharmacist-led CMM improved health and quality-of-life outcomes among patients with hypertension, according to a randomized clinical trial published in Scientific Reports. Researchers followed 128 adults receiving either CMM services or usual care in a primary care setting for 12 months. Patients receiving CMM experienced improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, cardiovascular risk scores, quality of life and hypertension-related knowledge. The authors concluded that pharmacist-led CMM shows promise for improving outcomes in routine practice…

Embedded CMM pharmacists show value in specialty care. A study published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association found that embedding CMM pharmacists into specialty clinics may improve care for patients with complex inflammatory conditions. Researchers evaluated a program in dermatology, gastroenterology and rheumatology clinics within a large academic health system. Between July 2023 and June 2024, pharmacists conducted more than 5,200 visits for 2,856 patients, most of whom were taking specialty medications. Pharmacists identified nearly 3,800 medication therapy…

Nearly 1 in 6 Family Medicine Residency Slots Unfilled Family medicine had a tough Match Day, raising fresh concerns about the primary care workforce pipeline. Fully 16% of all family medicine positions initially went unfilled. The number has increased year over year, unlike other specialties that tend to rebound after dips. The trend signals ongoing challenges in attracting trainees despite growing demand. Experts point to factors such as compensation disparities, workload, and burnout to demonstrate the need for policy and…

GTMRx toolkit to help pharmacy residents implement CMM GTMRx has released a toolkit to introduce pharmacy residents to CMM. It provides foundational knowledge of CMM, including the philosophy of practice and patient care process, steps for implementation, and standards for practice management. The toolkit links to tools that help organizations assess readiness to implement CMM and evaluate program performance, along with use cases from a variety of care settings, demonstrating the value of CMM. It also provides links to additional…

PBM reforms become law PBM reforms are now law, enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 signed Feb. 3. The legislation increases transparency in Medicare Part D by requiring pharmacy benefit managers to report pricing, rebates and spread pricing practices to plan sponsors and disclose clearer contract terms, including reimbursement and dispensing fees. Supporters say the changes will improve pharmacy access and transparency in drug spending. (Pharmacy Times) UPDATED for 2026! Now available: GTMRx evidence report The…

Breaking down silos with CMM to improve CKM care Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome requires integrated care models, including comprehensive medication management, to address complex, overlapping drug regimens, write the authors of a Cardiology Today paper. Fragmented care across cardiology, nephrology and endocrinology often leads to suboptimal. Incorporating CMM allows pharmacists and clinicians to systematically assess medication appropriateness, effectiveness, safety and adherence across conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Team-based models that embed CMM into CKM care pathways can improve…

Remote CMM model cuts readmissions by 44%, provides 3:1 ROI A pediatric-focused, telehealth-enabled comprehensive medication management model from Perfecting Peds supports medically complex children by remotely reviewing therapies, identifying drug therapy problems, optimizing dosing, and coordinating with care teams. The program has shown strong clinical impact, resolving thousands of medication issues, reducing hospital readmissions by 44%, and avoiding unnecessary ED and clinic visits. Families report high satisfaction, with fewer adverse effects and clearer treatment plans. Financially, the model produces substantial…

Not just the elderly: Polypharmacy a threat in middle age Polypharmacy—taking five or more daily medications—is increasingly common among middle-aged adults, raising safety concerns. A Journal of General Internal Medicine links polypharmacy in middle age to reduced physical function scores to lower physical function scores and higher risks of drug interactions, cognitive impairment, and hospitalization. While causality remains unclear, the authors urge clinicians to assess physical function in middle-aged patients with polypharmacy to catch decline earlier and reduce harm. (Journal…

Private equity: Foxes and henhouses? A New York Times investigation found that Novo Nordisk repeatedly chose WCG, an institutional review board partly owned by Novo’s corporate parent, to oversee its drug trials, raising conflict-of-interest concerns. Once nonprofit watchdogs, many IRBs are now profit-driven under private-equity ownership, prioritizing speed over scrutiny, according to the investigation. WCG and rival Advarra dominate the for-profit review market, often selling other services to the same drugmakers they monitor. Critics say these ties blur ethical lines,…

Updated Pharmacists' Patient Care Process released The Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners released the 2025 Pharmacists' Patient Care Process. The Commission took into consideration a number of issues, including person-centered language, emphasis on health equity and social determinants, expanded pharmacist scope of practice, new care delivery modes, and team-based collaboration with patients and healthcare professionals. The update incorporates insights from the Comprehensive Medication Management in Primary Care study that validated the PPCP steps. (2025 Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process; ApHA announcement)…

Judge blocks law to severely restrict PBMs In a closely watched case, a federal judge has temporarily blocked an Arkansas law that would prevent companies from operating both pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and pharmacies. The law aimed to address concerns that major PBMs—CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx—favor their own pharmacy networks. The judge ruled that it “likely violates” the Commerce Clause. Critics say these firms favor their own pharmacies, distorting drug pricing and access. In 2023, these PBMs processed…

Failure to use PGx testing results in patient death JoEllen Zembruski-Ruple, a 65-year-old patient advocate, died after taking the chemotherapy drug capecitabine without being tested for a genetic enzyme deficiency that made the drug toxic to her, Kaiser Health News reports. Her death highlights the critical importance of pharmacogenomic testing. It’s not routinely offered, leaving patients vulnerable to preventable harm from widely used cancer drugs. “They never said why they didn’t test her,” Zembruski-Ruple’s sister said. “If the test existed,…

CPAs empower pharmacists and improve patient outcomes Collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) empower pharmacists to enhance patient care, improving access, continuity, and health outcomes, according to research published in Total Pharmacy. These agreements allow pharmacists to manage medication therapy and offer preventive care like vaccinations and contraception. CPAs also support chronic condition management, such as diabetes. A study on comprehensive medication management shows integrating clinical pharmacists into primary care improves outcomes, with gains in A1C, blood pressure, and statin use. Despite…