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MedsCheck

Frequently Asked Questions: MedsCheck for Ontarians living with Diabetes

Patient Eligibility

• Who is eligible to receive a MedsCheck for Diabetes
• Is a patient living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and taking less than 3 chronic prescription medications still eligible for the MedsCheck for Diabetes?
• Is the MedsCheck for Diabetes offered to Ontarians who are seeking preventative information on diabetes and/or are not diabetic?
• How often can I conduct a MedsCheck for Diabetes with a patient?
• How do I determine whether a patient has already had a MedsCheck for Diabetes service conducted at another pharmacy?
• How will the ministry address patients who receive a MedsCheck for Diabetes review more than once within the year?

Conducting The MedsCheck for Diabetes

• As a pharmacist, do I require specific training and education to conduct a MedsCheck for Diabetes?
• Can the pharmacist conduct the MedsCheck for Diabetes service outside the community pharmacy?
• Is the patient required to sign the MedsCheck for Diabetes medication reviews along with the pharmacist?
• Can the pharmacist conduct the MedsCheck for Diabetes with the caregiver?
• Is there a role for the registered pharmacy technician in conducting the MedsCheck for Diabetes program?
• What is included in the MedsCheck for Diabetes medication review?
• Is there a standardized form that pharmacists must use for the MedsCheck for Diabetes?
• Can the MedsCheck for Diabetes be conducted outside the pharmacy or in the patient’s home?
• I’ve just completed a MedsCheck for Diabetes review and I’ve decided that the patient needs more follow-up and monitoring. What do I do?
• Where can I find more information about diabetes for my patients?
• Where can I find out where my closest Diabetes Education Program is located?
• How long should a MedsCheck for Diabetes Annual and Follow-up review take?

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Patient Eligibility

Who is eligible to receive a MedsCheck for Diabetes

Ontarians who hold a valid Ontario health card,  live in Ontario, and are living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are eligible for the MedsCheck for Diabetes provided they visit the pharmacy in person and are not living in a licensed home as per the requirements of the MedsCheck LTC.

Is a patient living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and taking less than 3 chronic prescription medications still eligible for the MedsCheck for Diabetes?

Yes. If a patient is diagnosed as having type 1 or type 2 diabetes and is taking one or two prescription drugs for diabetes which may include insulin, he/she is eligible for the MedsCheck for Diabetes.  Eligible recipients of the MedsCheck for Diabetes, unlike the other MedsCheck programs, are not required to be taking 3 chronic prescription medications; they must however, be diagnosed as having type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Is the MedsCheck for Diabetes offered to Ontarians who are seeking preventative information on diabetes and/or are not diabetic?

No. The MedsCheck for Diabetes is offered to patients who have been diagnosed as living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and who may be taking medication for their condition.

How often can I conduct a MedsCheck for Diabetes with a patient?

Eligible patients may receive a MedsCheck for Diabetes assessment service once per year based on the date that the recipient had his/her previous MedsCheck for Diabetes service. Should a patient require a follow-up consultation and/or communication, the pharmacist will include this plan as part of the assessment with the projected monitoring, communication and follow-up. Patients targeted for monitoring are eligible for a MedsCheck for Diabetes Follow-up service within the same year. The MedsCheck for Diabetes Follow-Up visit must take place at the same pharmacy that provided the annual diabetes assessment service. Once a patient is the recipient of the MedsCheck for Diabetes, he/she is not eligible to receive a MedsCheck Annual.

Note: If a patient is diagnosed with diabetes and has received a MedsCheck Annual within the previous 12 months; this patient is eligible for a MedsCheck for Diabetes.

How do I determine whether a patient has already had a MedsCheck for Diabetes service conducted at another pharmacy?

Pharmacists are required to plan the MedsCheck for Diabetes services with patients living with diabetes and to schedule a time for the pharmacy consultation that is agreeable to the patient. In so doing, it is important to ask the patient whether or not they have participated in the MedsCheck for Diabetes service with another pharmacy in the past year.

The MedsCheck for Diabetes Follow-Up visit must take place at the same pharmacy that provided the annual diabetes assessment service.

In the near future, the ministry’s Health Network System will remind pharmacists that a MedsCheck for Diabetes has been conducted within the previous year; pharmacists will be informed when this mechanism is in place.

How will the ministry address patients who receive a MedsCheck for Diabetes review more than once within the year?

Pharmacies are reimbursed for one MedsCheck for Diabetes claim per year based on the date that the recipient had his/her previous MedsCheck for Diabetes assessment service. A patient who receives a MedsCheck for Diabetes is not eligible for a MedsCheck Annual after the fact; however, he/she is eligible for a MedsCheck for Diabetes Follow-up

The ministry is looking at changes to the Health Network System (HNS) that can limit the number of reviews per year for a recipient. The ministry is unable to implement the changes at this time due to system constraints.

Patients may be eligible for a MedsCheck Follow-up medication review which may be conducted when a patient is discharged from hospital, due to a planned hospital admission, a pharmacists documented decision or as a result of a referral by physician or a registered nurse in the extended class (RN[EC]). Documentation is required for all MedsCheck services. Please note that such patients must be taking a minimum of 3 prescription medications for a chronic condition and not all patients undergoing the MedsCheck for Diabetes may be eligible.

Ministry inspectors will monitor the claims and will follow up with pharmacies if there are concerns regarding claims submissions including missing or incomplete documentation records. All MedsCheck claims are subject to audit and monies may be recovered if deemed appropriate.

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Conducting The MedsCheck for Diabetes

As a pharmacist, do I require specific training and education to conduct a MedsCheck for Diabetes?

Yes. Pharmacists are required to be registered to practice direct patient care with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) (Part A of the Register, OCP). In addition, it is encouraged that pharmacists hold current certification as a Certified Diabetes Educator.

Can the pharmacist conduct the MedsCheck for Diabetes service outside the community pharmacy?

No. The MedsCheck for Diabetes is designed as a pharmacist’s one-on-one consultation to occur in the community pharmacy.

Is the patient required to sign the MedsCheck for Diabetes medication reviews along with the pharmacist?

Yes. The MedsCheck for Diabetes medication review must be signed and dated by the pharmacist and the patient.

Can the pharmacist conduct the MedsCheck for Diabetes with the caregiver?

Yes. The MedsCheck for Diabetes may be conducted with a caregiver; however, every attempt must be made for the patient to also be present for the review as the review includes device training which is more beneficial when conducted with the patient in person. Appropriate patient consent must be documented and on file at the pharmacy if the caregiver is acting as the patient’s agent.

Is there a role for the registered pharmacy technician in conducting the MedsCheck for Diabetes program?

Yes. Registered Pharmacy Technicians (RPhT) may play a role in researching/gathering the available diabetes support materials and references that are provided to the patient as part of the consultation.  The RPhT may also assist in booking appointments and identifying potential candidates for the MedsCheck for Diabetes service.

Provided the pharmacist is physically present in the community pharmacy, a RPhT may assist patients to select and use drug administration devices, diagnostic and monitoring devices, home health aids, and other non-drug measures. If the RPhT is assisting; he/she should also sign his/her name to the medication review along with the pharmacist and the patient.

What is included in the MedsCheck for Diabetes medication review?

The MedsCheck for Diabetes review includes a medication review as in the MedsCheck program as well as providing education, advice, recommendations to support the management of their diabetes, follow-up measures and referrals to other health care professionals or services; all of which needs to be documented in an assessment summary. The service will also include a review of other health conditions the patient may have. Patients will also benefit from medical device training and selection; appropriate use of glucose testing as well as appropriate disposal of drugs and diabetes supplies.

Is there a standardized form that pharmacists must use for the MedsCheck for Diabetes?

No. Pharmacist are encouraged to adapt the various form templates as outlined in the program details document when conducting the MedsCheck for Diabetes medication review and assessment summary.

Can the MedsCheck for Diabetes be conducted outside the pharmacy or in the patient’s home?

No. The MedsCheck for Diabetes is designed to be conducted by the pharmacist in the community pharmacy. If the patient is not physically able to visit the pharmacy, pharmacists should look into conducting a MedsCheck at Home with the patient.

I’ve just completed a MedsCheck for Diabetes review and I’ve decided that the patient needs more follow-up and monitoring. What do I do?

The pharmacist may arrange with the patient for a MedsCheck for Diabetes Follow-up if when conducting the initial MedsCheck for Diabetes it is determined that follow-up and monitoring will be beneficial to the patient.

Where can I find more information about diabetes for my patients?

Stand Up To Diabetes provides tools and information for Ontarians who are at risk of developing diabetes on prevention of the disease, as well as tools for Ontarians with diabetes to better manage their disease.

Where can I find out where my closest Diabetes Education Program is located?

Visit the searchable database of Diabetes Education Programs available in Ontario in the provider section at Stand Up to Diabetes.

How long should a MedsCheck for Diabetes Annual and Follow-up review take?

Time required to conduct the MedsCheck for Diabetes will vary from patient to patient depending on the degree of their diabetes condition as well as other chronic disease conditions; it is estimated that the interview portion will take approximately 30-45 minutes for the Diabetes Annual and 20-30 minutes for the Diabetes Follow-up.

Pharmacy support staff including registered pharmacy technicians can assist in the administrative work required to prepare for any MedsCheck program including identifying patients, organizing appointments and collecting reference information.