When you stay on top of you or your loved one’s medications alongside a healthcare team, you reduce the risk of medication-related problems resulting in better health outcomes. From reducing costs to improving care, here are some medication management tips and tricks for Medicare beneficiaries.
What is medication management?
Medication management, or prescription management, is the process of overseeing a patient’s prescribed medications to ensure the medications are taken properly and are working to improve the patient’s health. The process includes initial and ongoing medication reviews to address safety and adherence concerns, reduce adverse effects, and educate patients.
Ways to Manage Your Prescription Medications
It can be hard to manage all of your or your loved one’s medications, but here are a few tips to help with prescription medication management:
Keep a list:
Keep an updated list of all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, including your dosage information and why you are taking them.
Use one pharmacy:
If possible, filling all of your prescriptions at one pharmacy will not only create an easier routine pickup process, but the pharmacist can help keep track of your medications and alert you to any possible drug interactions.
Use a pill organizer:
Using a monthly or weekly pill organizer can help eliminate any confusion about whether or not you’ve taken a certain medication that day.
Remove unnecessary medications when possible:
In general, it’s safer to take as few medications as possible. Less medications mean less chance of interactions or side effects.
Be aware of the “prescription cascade”:
Oftentimes, the side effects of a medication are misdiagnosed as symptoms of another problem. Understanding possible side effects of your medications can help prevent further side effects and additional medications that increase the chance of additional interactions.
Find the Right Medicare Plan to Meet Your Prescription Coverage Needs
Along with medication management, having a prescription drug plan will give you broader healthcare coverage and can also save you money. Also known as Medicare Part D, a prescription drug plan can be purchased as a standalone plan to supplement Original Medicare or to accompany a Medicare Supplement plan. Another option for obtaining prescription drug coverage is with a Medicare Advantage plan—also known as Medicare Part C.
Still have questions about prescription drug coverage and medication management? SelectQuote can help.
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