Name: James Marmar

Address: 55 First Ave. East/North, Kalispell, Montana 59901

Phone: (406) 756-5960

Fax: (406) 257-8852

E-mail: jmarmar@netrix.net

Innovations:

James Marmar is a pharmacist at Tidyman’s pharmacy, which is an employee owned grocery store. There are three full-time pharmacists working seven days a week certified in asthma, disease state, and diabetes. Some of the innovations that James Marmar is doing are as follows:

1. New Drugs: A new drug sheet is sent out every week to all the local doctors’ offices. This information is faxed to them on one sheet. This creates a positive dialog with the local doctors. The doctors also call the pharmacy for additional information.
2. Pharmacy Fax Network: James Marmar has started this to develop better communications among pharmacists and pharmacies.
3. World Wide Web (www) Medical Research Reports: James Marmar uses this to help give patients some in depth information about disease states and medical procedures. The patients are charged $25.00 per hour for the reports.
4. Asthma and Diabetes Programs: These programs have not been formalized yet, but they have a sign outside the pharmacy. The three pharmacists at Tidyman’s pharmacy are certified in both asthma and diabetes. They are also trying to establish an asthma education program with a local employer (1500 employees). They also interview patients and gather information on the medication history form.
5. Drug Food Project: Being in a large supermarket, they are planning to develop a drug food counseling profile and recommend particular foods for different disease states or what foods to avoid with medication. They provide counseling about coumadin and foods high in Vitamin K.

Methods of Reimbursement:

Payer: The patients pay cash for the services rendered.

Reimbursement rate: $75.00 for the first session and $1.00 per minute for subsequent follow-ups.

Documentation: HCFA 1500 form is a Medicare standard utilized through insurance industry for understanding the billing. In addition to this, there are ICD 9 diagnostic codes, which pertain to medical procedures. These codes are specified and sent to insurance companies and it is reimbursed according to services performed.

Specialized Training:

It involves both eight hours of work per day and some training at University of Montana. The training includes 14-16 hours of continuing education in an intensive disease treatment using seminars and two hours continuing education in clinical billing that covers patient education sessions.

Software/instrumentation:

James Marmar would like to have a separate consulting area to have private sessions with patients. He is hoping to have a simple, interview process on a computer for the patients that will be inexpensive.