HealthPartners
When Trina Kauhaihao first got the call in 2024, she wasn’t sure what to think.
A pharmacist reaching out to talk about her daughter’s medications? Offering help at no cost?
“My first thought was, ‘Oh my gosh, am I doing something wrong?’” she says with a laugh.
But Trina would soon get to know – and love – the woman on the other end of the call: Marry Vuong, chief of clinical operations at Perfecting Peds, offering no-cost medication therapy management (MTM) that was available through her daughter Ileana’s HealthPartners health plan.
“She’s like a miracle worker,” Trina says. “She’s just amazing.”
Help with complex care needs
Ileana, now 16, has been navigating complex health needs her entire life after being born a micro preemie at just 25 weeks. Over the years, she’s been diagnosed with asthma, epilepsy and a thyroid condition that required surgery. She also manages a severe peanut allergy.
Her care team spans multiple specialists across the Twin Cities, including her primary care at Park Nicollet. And like many families managing chronic conditions, Trina found herself juggling medications, appointments and ever-changing needs.
Through Ileana’s HealthPartners plan, Trina was connected with Marry. Together, they reviewed Ileana’s full medication list.
“Marry is really, really good at monitoring her meds,” Trina says. “Making sure everything is right, that nothing is conflicting, and even finding opportunities to tweak things or take her off medications she doesn’t need.”
That kind of support proved especially valuable during a hospitalization for severe migraines.
“They just couldn’t get it under control,” Trina says. “She was there for two days. And Marry was able to look at everything and help make changes.”
High value, real impact
For Ileana, there’s a lot more to think about than medications, although her health has been challenging, she says.
“It’s not easy,” she says simply. “All the medications and all the doctor’s appointments.”
But she hasn’t let that define her. She’s active at St. Louis Park High School, playing both soccer and flag football.
Behind the scenes, her medication regimen still requires careful coordination. And that’s where the consistency of having someone like Marry matters most. When it came time to choose health plan coverage again, the decision was simple: stay with HealthPartners to keep that trusted support. Through our own team of MTM pharmacists – and partnerships with organizations like Perfecting Peds – we’re able to deliver highly personalized support to members with complex needs.
Our data show that MTM services deliver a 3:1 return on investment while improving health outcomes and the overall care experience.
For families like Trina and Ileana’s, the impact is even more personal.
“It truly takes a village,” Trina says. “And having someone like Marry on our team, it just makes everything easier.”