The transitions of care process involves pharmacists and other members of the health care team who are in a position to collect, review, and analyze medications lists to help improve health care outcomes. Medication reconciliation is a complex process, especially when providing care to elderly population due to increased medication use, the movement of the patient from one health care setting to another, the number of acute and chronic illnesses, and the intervention of multiple health care providers in different facilities. The use of electronic health records can provide many benefits.

It has been one year--since January 1, 2013--that comprehensive medication review has been recognized as a medication therapy management (MTM) service that must be offered annually by Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to \"qualified beneficiaries.\" This requirement solidifies the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services\' commitment to ensure all beneficiaries, including those in long-term care facilities, receive quality MTM services. Consultant pharmacists, who have long provided federally mandated medication regimen review services, may have their first opportunity to be paid for the additional services that they provide to individual Medicare beneficiaries residing in those facilities.