Insurer costs of COVID-19 by disease severity and duration.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze US commercial insurance payments associated with COVID-19 as a function of severity and duration of disease. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective database analysis. METHODS: Patients with COVID-19 between April 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021, in the Merative MarketScan Commercial database were identified and stratified as having asymptomatic, mild, moderate (with and without lower respiratory disease), or severe/critical (S/C) disease based on the severity of the acute COVID-19 infection. Duration of disease (DOD) was estimated for all patients. Patients with DOD longer than 12 weeks were defined as having post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). Outcomes were all-cause payments (ACP) and disease-specific payments (DSP) for the entire DOD. Variables included demographic and comorbidities at the time of acute disease. Adjusted payments by disease severity were estimated using generalized linear models (γ distribution with log link). RESULTS: A total of 738,339 patients were included (374,401 asymptomatic, 156,220 mild, 180,213 moderate, and 27,505 S/C cases). DSP increased from $217 (95% CI, $214-221) for asymptomatic cases to $2744 (95% CI, $2678-$2811) for moderate cases with lower respiratory disease and $28,250 (95% CI, $26,963-$29,538) for S/C cases. ACP increased from $505 (95% CI, $497-$512) for asymptomatic cases to $46,538 (95% CI, $44,096-$48,979) for S/C cases. The DSP and ACP further increased by $50,736 (95% CI, $45,337-$56,136) and $94,839 (95% CI, $88,029-$101,649), respectively, in S/C cases with PCC vs a DOD of fewer than 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 payments for S/C cases were more than 10-fold greater than those of moderate cases and further increased by nearly $95,000 in S/C cases with PCC vs a DOD of fewer than 4 weeks.

Cost-Effectiveness of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine for the Prevention of Herpes Zoster in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients and Other Immunocompromised Adults in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Immunocompromised (IC) adults are at increased risk of developing herpes zoster (HZ) and HZ-related complications due to therapy or underlying disease. This study evaluated the cost effectiveness of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) versus no vaccine for the prevention of HZ in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients and other IC adults aged ≥ 18 years in the United States (US). METHODS: A static Markov model simulated cohorts of IC individuals using a 1-year cycle length and 30-year time horizon to estimate the cost effectiveness of RZV. Inputs were sourced from clinical trial results and publicly available sources/literature. Modeled populations included US adult HSCT recipients (base case), patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), patients with breast cancer, patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma, and renal transplant recipients. The model reported societal costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Sensitivity and threshold analyses were conducted. RESULTS: In the base case of 19,671 US adult HSCT recipients, RZV resulted in total societal cost savings of US$0.1 million and 109 incremental QALYs versus no vaccine. RZV was a 'dominant strategy' versus no vaccine because vaccination resulted in cost savings with QALY gains. RZV was also cost saving in renal transplant recipients, and cost effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of US$100,000 per QALY gained in patients with HIV, breast cancer, and Hodgkin's lymphoma, with ICERs of US$33,268, US$67,682, and US$95,972 per QALY gained, respectively, versus no vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Model results show RZV is potentially cost saving for the prevention of HZ in US adult HSCT recipients and US adults with selected immunocompromising conditions, and cost effective for others, supporting the use of RZV to prevent HZ and HZ-related complications in IC adults.

Health care costs of COVID-19 vs influenza and pneumonia.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate payments for the treatment of COVID-19 compared with that of influenza or viral pneumonia (IP), from the perspective of the US payer. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis. METHODS: Patients with COVID-19 during the period from October 1, 2020, to February 1, 2021, or IP during the period from October 1, 2018, to February 1, 2019, in the IBM MarketScan databases were identified. The index was defined as the date of the first COVID-19 or IP diagnosis. Patients with COVID-19 were stratified by severity. Variables for all patients included demographics and comorbidities at the time of index and duration of disease. IP and COVID-19 cohorts were matched using propensity scores, and inflation-adjusted all-cause payments (ACP), and disease-specific payments (DSP) for IP vs COVID-19 were estimated using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Matched cohorts included 6332 Medicare (female, 58.5%; mean [SD] age, 75.3 [7.6] years), and 397,532 commercially insured patients (female, 57.6%; mean [SD] age, 34.7 [16.7] years). ACP and DSP were significantly higher in the COVID-19 cohort vs IP cohort. Payments for severe/critical COVID-19 were significantly greater than those for IP, with adjusted marginal incremental DSP and ACP of $24,852 (95% CI, $21,573-$28,132) and $50,325 (95% CI, $43,932-$56,718), respectively. IP was significantly less expensive than moderate COVID-19 for commercial payers but not Medicare. IP was more expensive than mild COVID-19 for all payers. CONCLUSIONS: Payments associated with severe/critical COVID-19 significantly exceeded those associated with IP. For Medicare, IP was more expensive than mild or moderate COVID-19. For commercial payers, IP was less expensive than moderate COVID-19 but more expensive than mild COVID-19.

Public health impact of recombinant zoster vaccine for prevention of herpes zoster in US adults immunocompromised due to cancer.

Individuals who are immunocompromised (IC) due to therapy or underlying disease are at increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ). This study evaluates the public health impact of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) relative to no HZ vaccination for the prevention of HZ among adults aged ≥18 years diagnosed with selected cancers in the United States (US). A static Markov model was used to simulate three cohorts of individuals who are IC with cancer (time horizon of 30 years; one-year cycle length): hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients, patients with breast cancer (BC; a solid tumor example), and patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL; a hematological malignancy example). Cohort sizes reflect the estimated annual incidence of each condition in the US population (19,671 HSCT recipients, 279,100 patients with BC, and 8,480 patients with HL). Vaccination with RZV resulted in 2,297; 38,068; and 848 fewer HZ cases for HSCT recipients, patients with BC, and patients with HL, respectively (each versus no vaccine). Vaccination with RZV also resulted in 422; 3,184; and 93 fewer postherpetic neuralgia cases for HSCT, BC, and HL, respectively. Analyses estimated the quality-adjusted life years gained to be 109, 506, and 17 for HSCT, BC, and HL, respectively. To prevent one HZ case, the number needed to vaccinate was 9, 8, and 10, for HSCT, BC, and HL, respectively. These results suggest RZV vaccination may be an effective option to significantly reduce HZ disease burden among patients diagnosed with selected cancers in the US.

Shingles cases can be prevented by recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV). People who have a weakened immune system (immunocompromised) due to disease or therapy are more likely to develop shingles. For example, shingles occurs in nearly a quarter of patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment for blood cancers. To estimate the public health impact of vaccination against shingles in people who are immunocompromised due to cancer in the United States (US), we used a model to simulate groups with selected types of cancer. The results indicate vaccination with RZV can significantly reduce shingles cases and related complications among these groups in the US.

Economic Burden of COVID-19: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To review and qualitatively synthesize the evidence related to the economic burden of COVID-19, including healthcare resource utilization and costs. Methods: A systematic review of studies that assessed the economic burden [eg, direct costs, productivity, macroeconomic impact due to non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and equity] of COVID-19 was conducted by searches in EMBASE, MEDLINE, MEDLINE-IN-PROCESS, and The Cochrane Library, as well as manual searches of unpublished research for the period between January 2020 to February 2021. Single reviewer data extraction was confirmed independently by a second reviewer. Results: The screening process resulted in a total of 27 studies: 25 individual publications, and 2 systematic literature reviews, of narrower scopes, that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The patients diagnosed with more severe COVID-19 were associated with higher costs. The main drivers for higher costs were consistent across countries and included ICU admission, in-hospital resource use such as mechanical ventilation, which lead to increase costs of $2082.65 ± 345.04 to $2990.76 ± 545.98. The most frequently reported indirect costs were due to productivity losses. On average, older COVID-19 patients incurred higher costs when compared to younger age groups. An estimation of a 20% COVID-19 infection rate based on a Monte Carlo simulation in the United States led to a total direct medical cost of $163.4 billion over the course of the pandemic. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a considerable economic burden on patients and the general population. Preventative measures such as NPIs only have partial success in lowering the economic costs of the pandemic. Implementing additional preventative measures such as large-scale vaccination is vital in reducing direct and indirect medical costs, decreased productivity, and GDP losses.

Factors influencing series completion rates of recombinant herpes zoster vaccine in the United States: A retrospective pharmacy and medical claims analysis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vaccination against herpes zoster (HZ) is an effective strategy in protecting the population against consequences of varicella zoster virus reactivation. Optimal immunogenicity with recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) relies on completion of the 2-dose series within 2-6 months from the first dose. The objectives of this study were to estimate RZV completion rates and adherence with the recommended administration schedule in the general United States population aged at least 50 years and to evaluate factors influencing completion rates. METHODS: Longitudinal, open-source pharmacy and medical claims databases were analyzed for adults aged at least 50 years with a first RZV prescription filled between October 2017 and September 2019. The data were linked to Experian Marketing Services Consumer View data to obtain information regarding race. Completion rates and adherence were calculated overall and stratified according to claim source, age class, sex, and payer type. Logistic regression models were built for each subpopulation of interest to identify factors correlating with completion rates. RESULTS: Overall, cumulative completion rates were 70.41% and 81.80% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Median time to second dose was approximately 4 months (4.08-5.13 months) and adherence 67.62%. Completion rates were lower in the medical claims database compared with the pharmacy claims database (48.98% vs. 73.23% at 6 months). Regression models confirmed that pharmacy claim was an independent factor for higher completion rates, while African American race and Medicaid status were associated with lower completion rates. Most comorbidities, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, were associated with lower completion rates. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists contribute substantially to the overall high RZV completion rates in the United States. However, completion rates can be improved, especially in people receiving their first RZV dose at a physician's office. Future strategies should aim at lowering barriers to completing vaccination series in African Americans, Medicaid beneficiaries, and people with comorbidities.

Increased Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs Associated with Herpes Zoster Among Patients Aged ≥50 Years with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are potentially at increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ). Little is known about the impact of an HZ episode on health care resource utilization (HRU) and costs among patients with COPD. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study of individuals aged ≥50 years in the United States (US) used administrative claims data from Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database for commercially insured and Medicare Advantage members (2013-2018). Two cohorts of patients with COPD, with HZ (COPD+/HZ+) and without HZ (COPD+/HZ-), were identified. All-cause and COPD-related HRU rates and costs (2018 US dollars) were compared between cohorts for up to 12 months of follow-up. Comparisons were controlled for baseline differences through propensity score adjustment. RESULTS: A total of 3415 COPD+/HZ+ and 35,360 COPD+/HZ- patients (mean ages 73.2 ± 9.0 and 72.4 ± 9.4 years, respectively) were identified. Patients in the COPD+/HZ+ versus COPD+/HZ- cohort had increased use of all-cause (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14, 1.21) and COPD-related (aIRR 1.27; 95% CI 1.21, 1.34) medical services (both P<0.001) and higher mean total all-cause ($4140 versus $3749 per person per month [PPPM]; adjusted cost difference +$313 PPPM) and COPD-related ($1541 versus $1231 PPPM; +$152 PPPM) costs (both P<0.004) in the year after HZ. CONCLUSIONS: HRU and cost burden is higher in patients with COPD with vs without HZ. These results could help to estimate the potential cost benefits of HZ vaccination among patients with COPD.

Incremental clinical and economic impact of recombinant zoster vaccination: real-world data in a budget impact model.

BACKGROUND: In 2017, the FDA approved the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) for the prevention of herpes zoster (HZ) in immunocompetent adults aged 50 years and older. RZV joined zoster vaccine live (ZVL) as U.S.-marketed vaccines against HZ. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices preferentially recommended use of RZV over ZVL. In order to inform population-based decision makers (PBDMs) about the incremental clinical and economic impact of RZV adoption, budget impact (BI) models may be used. Populating such models with national data can inform PBDMs about the incremental value of RZV adoption nationally; however, heterogeneity across health plans requires the inclusion of plan-specific data to ensure the relevance of modeling outcomes for plan-specific decision makers. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and economic outcomes associated with the adoption of RZV in nationally representative populations with commercial and Medicare coverage and to demonstrate the effect of the heterogeneity of health plans using real-world data from a large, integrated delivery network (IDN). METHODS: We used a publicly available BI model. The model accounts for national and IDN-collected population characteristics (size, age distribution) and epidemiological data (incidence of HZ and complications, HZ recurrence rate), vaccine characteristics from randomized controlled trials and observational studies (efficacy, waning, second dose compliance for RZV, adverse event rate), national costs (vaccine, direct medical for HZ, complications, and vaccine adverse events), and current and anticipated vaccine coverage. We assessed incremental clinical (HZ cases and complications) and economic (per-member-per-month [PMPM] costs) impact at 5-year to 15-year time horizons, comparing scenarios where RZV is solely implemented with one where only ZVL is utilized. RESULTS: Following the adoption of RZV, the incremental HZ cases avoided over 5 and 15 years were estimated to be 1,800 and 15,000 for a commercial plan, 3,800 and 21,000 for a Medicare plan, and 8,600 and 71,000 for a specific IDN. The incremental PMPM budget impact over the same time horizons was estimated to be $0.42 and $0.31, respectively, for a commercial plan, $0.35 and $0.10 for a Medicare plan, and $0.39 and $0.25 for a specific IDN. The differences in results across plans resulted from the population age distribution, the vaccine copay (applied in the Medicare scenario only), the vaccine coverage in the plan, and other plan-specific factors affecting disease epidemiology and costs per case of HZ. CONCLUSIONS: Model projections indicated that RZV adoption avoided HZ cases and related complications, with the PMPM budget impact dependent on plan-specific factors. As health gains increased over time, the incremental costs incurred were found to decrease as the shorter-term costs of adopting the new vaccine were increasingly offset by the longer-term benefits of vaccination. DISCLOSURES: GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA funded this study (GSK study identifier: HO-17-18378) and was involved in all stages of study conduct, including analysis of the data. GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA also paid all costs associated with the development and publication of this manuscript. Patterson, Van Oorschot, and Curran are employees of the GSK group of companies and hold shares in the GSK group of companies. Herring, Carrico, and Zhang are employees of RTI Health Solutions, which received funding via a contractual agreement with the GSK group of companies to perform the work contributing to this research. Ackerson, Bruxvoort, Sy, and Tseng are employees of Kaiser Permanente Southern California, which was contracted by the GSK group of companies for the conduct of this study and were members of the KPSC study team. Ackerson, Bruxvoort, Sy, and Tseng report research contracts with the following pharmaceutical companies unrelated to this study: Dynavax (Ackerson, Bruxvoort, and Sy); the GSK group of companies (Ackerson, Bruxvoort, Sy, and Tseng); Novavax (Ackerson, Sy, and Tseng); and Seqirus (Ackerson, Bruxvoort, Sy, and Tseng). Tseng reports having served as a paid consultant for the GSK group of companies. The authors declare no other financial and nonfinancial relationships and activities. Findings from this study were presented at AMCP Nexus 2019; October 29-November 1, 2019; National Harbor, MD.

Analysis of Vascular Event Risk After Herpes Zoster From 2007 to 2014 US Insurance Claims Data.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke, and myocardial infarction in periods covering 4 weeks before to 52 weeks after herpes zoster (HZ) diagnosis in US adults. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study (GSK study identifier: HO-15-15771) with matched cohorts used the Truven Health MarketScan Commercial and Medicare claims data set linked with obesity and smoking status information. Patients 18 years and older at the date of HZ diagnosis and 1-year pre- and post-HZ diagnosis continuous insurance enrollment (from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2014) were propensity score matched to controls in terms of demographic characteristics, risk factors for vascular events, other comorbid disorders, general health, obesity, and smoking status. A post hoc sensitivity analysis was performed not matching for obesity and smoking status information. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated using multivariate Poisson models during an aggregate period (1-month before and after the index date). RESULTS: A total of 23,339 patients with HZ were matched to 46,378 controls (mean age, 56 years; 45,173 [65%] women). During the aggregate period, patients with HZ were statistically significantly more likely to suffer a TIA: IRRs for all patients and patients aged 18 to 49 years were 1.56 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-2.15) and 5.12 (95% CI, 1.37-19.10), respectively (P<.05); the respective IRRs for stroke were 1.40 (95% CI, 0.93-2.11) and 8.12 (95% CI, 0.93-71.27). In the sensitivity analysis, IRRs for TIA and stroke were statistically significantly increased regardless of age. CONCLUSION: Herpes zoster was associated with an increased risk of composite events, TIA, and stroke in adults in the period around diagnosis. More research on the HZ and vascular risk association is needed. GSK STUDY IDENTIFIER: HO-15-15771.

Costs of herpes zoster complications in older adults: A cohort study of US claims database.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Herpes zoster (HZ) incidence increases with age, and the burden of HZ is expected to grow with aging of populations worldwide. We aim to determine the incremental healthcare resource utilization and associated costs of patients with common HZ-related complications other than postherpetic neuralgia (cutaneous, neurologic and ophthalmic) compared to uncomplicated HZ. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of commercial health insurance claims covering about 40 million immunocompetent individuals aged ≥50 years at study entry from all over the US, from 2008 to 2013, with follow-up for one year after HZ onset. All-cause healthcare resource utilization and direct healthcare costs were recorded and calculated from six months before until 12 months after HZ onset. The mean costs for HZ patients with complications were compared to the mean costs for patients with uncomplicated HZ. Multivariable regression analyses estimated mean incremental costs adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, type of complication and time period. RESULTS: Over the five-year study period, 22,948 HZ patients (60% women, median age 62 years) who experienced at least one of the selected complications were compared to 213,232 patients (63% women, median age 61 years) with uncomplicated HZ. Overall, the mean annual incremental unadjusted costs for the patients with HZ-related complications were US$4716, ranging from US$2173 for ophthalmic to US$18,323 for neurologic complications. Most of the incremental costs associated with HZ complications were accrued during the first quarter after HZ onset. For each complication type the incremental costs increased with age up to, but not including the oldest group, aged ≥80 years. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 10% of immunocompetent older patients with HZ develop complications which considerably increase the economic burden of HZ. Vaccination of older adults will offset some of the burden of HZ, including costs associated with HZ-related complications.

Cost-effectiveness of an adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine in older adults in the United States who have been previously vaccinated with zoster vaccine live.

Zoster Vaccine Live (ZVL) is marketed in the US since 2008, and a non-live adjuvanted Recombinant Zoster Vaccine (RZV) was approved in 2017. Literature suggests that waning of ZVL efficacy may necessitate additional vaccination. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended vaccination with RZV in immunocompetent adults aged 50+ years old, including those previously vaccinated with ZVL. The objective of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of vaccinating US adults aged 60+ years old, previously vaccinated with ZVL. The ZOster ecoNomic Analysis (ZONA) model, a deterministic Markov model, was adapted to follow a hypothetical 1 million(M)-person cohort of US adults previously vaccinated with ZVL. Model inputs included demographics, epidemiology, vaccine characteristics, utilities and costs. Costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were presented over the lifetimes of the cohort from the year of additional vaccination, discounted 3% annually. The model estimated that, vaccination with RZV 5 years after previous vaccination with ZVL, would reduce disease burden compared with no additional vaccination, resulting in a gain of 1,633 QALYs at a total societal cost of $96M (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio: $58,793/QALY saved). Compared with revaccinating with ZVL, vaccination with RZV would result in a gain of 1,187 QALYs and societal cost savings of almost $84M. Sensitivity, scenario, and threshold analyses demonstrated robustness of these findings. Vaccination with RZV is predicted to be cost-effective relative to no additional vaccination, assuming a threshold of $100,000/QALY, and cost-saving relative to ZVL revaccination of US adults aged 60+ years old who have been previously vaccinated with ZVL.

Impact of an electronic medical record reminder on hepatitis B vaccine initiation and completion rates among insured adults with diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine for previously unvaccinated adults <60 years with diabetes mellitus. This observational retrospective cohort study assessed the impact of implementing electronic provider reminders on HepB vaccine initiation and 3-dose series completion rates among insured adults with diabetes aged 19-59 years old. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Difference-in-difference (DID) analyses compared changes in vaccine initiation and completion rates (ratio of the rate ratio [RRR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]) during 12 months pre- and post-implementation between intervention and control sites. We examined trends in vaccine initiation and completion rates by plotting monthly rates during the study period. We also calculated the overall HepB vaccine coverage rates with 95% CI among all adults with diabetes aged 19-59 years old at the start and end date of the study period. RESULTS: Baseline HepB vaccine initiation and completion rates were similar at both the intervention and control sites. Gender, age, and race/ethnicity distributions within both sites were similar during the 12 months pre- and post-implementation. DID analyses demonstrated statistically significant differences in the changes of the annual vaccine initiation rates (RRR: 70.7, 95% CI: 62.8-79.6) and the third dose completion rates (RRR = 18.7, 95% CI: 14.2-24.8) between the two sites. The coverage increased significantly at the intervention site while it remained low at the control site. CONCLUSIONS: Use of provider reminders is highly effective in increasing both HepB vaccine initiation and series completion rates among adults with diabetes.

Cost of herpes zoster and herpes zoster-related complications among immunocompromised individuals.

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a painful dermatomal rash caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus. The incidence of HZ is increased for immunocompromised (IC) individuals. The objective of this study is to assess the healthcare costs incurred by IC individuals who develop HZ with or without associated complications. We conducted a retrospective case-control study across the US over a 5-year period, based on health insurance claims data for individuals aged ≥50 years identified as IC by disease or immunosuppressive treatment. A cohort of 30,107 IC individuals who experienced HZ was matched to a cohort of 113,875 IC individuals without HZ. Average all-cause healthcare costs over 18 months were calculated and compared between IC individuals with and without HZ. In addition, the costs of HZ in IC individuals with HZ-related complications were compared to the costs of those with uncomplicated HZ. During the year following HZ onset, IC individuals with HZ had on average total unadjusted costs that were US$3879 higher than the controls. After adjusting costs, controlling for comorbidities and healthcare costs before the onset of HZ, the average annual costs for HZ cases and controls without HZ were similar. HZ-related complications led to increases in average adjusted annual costs compared to uncomplicated HZ ranging from US$612 for eye complications to US$4535 for neurologic complications. In conclusion, in IC individuals, episodes of HZ lead to substantially increased unadjusted annual healthcare costs. HZ-related complications add considerably to adjusted annual healthcare costs compared to uncomplicated HZ.

National survey of pharmacy-based immunization services.

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacists in the United States (U.S.) are authorized to administer vaccines. This study described: how and to what extent immunization services are offered, promoted, and documented in community pharmacies; reasons for referral to other locations for vaccination; and perceived barriers to immunization services. METHODS: A mixed-mode (mail/electronic) survey of a stratified random sample of 1999 nationally-representative community pharmacies in the U.S. was conducted in April-July 2017. Survey instrument development was informed by validated scales and 10 in-depth interviews with community pharmacists; content and face validity were ensured via pre- (n = 5) and pilot-tests (n = 26) among community pharmacists. Potential non-response bias was investigated and descriptive statistics were used to analyze survey responses. RESULTS: Of the 1999 community pharmacies, 119 pharmacies were deemed ineligible. Of those eligible pharmacies, complete responses were provided by 292 respondents, each representing a unique pharmacy (15.5% response rate). Respondents were evenly split male/female (52.5/47.5%) and about half were pharmacy managers (51.3%). The majority (79.5%) reported offering at least one type of vaccine in 2016, with the most commonly administered vaccine types (average doses in 2016) being: Influenza (484), Pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate (55), Herpes Zoster (41), and Pneumococcal polysaccharide (39). Two-thirds (66.7%) of immunizing pharmacies provided adolescent vaccinations. Most frequently reported referral reasons were patients' insurance not covering vaccine administration at the pharmacy and patients' age not within approved protocol, policy or state law. The majority of respondents did not perceive organizational and environmental factors as barriers; however, they reported patient-related factors, especially cost and insurance coverage, as important barriers. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of U.S. community pharmacies reported offering at least one type of vaccine. The scope of pharmacy engagement in immunization services varied in terms of how and to what extent they were offered and documented. Addressing patient-related barriers is needed to further enhance pharmacy-based immunization services.

Population characteristics associated with pharmacy-based influenza vaccination in United States survey data.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the population characteristics associated with the health behavior of receiving an influenza vaccine from a pharmacy-based setting. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from states that participated in an optional influenza module in the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a state-based observational survey of U.S. adults. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Analytic sample of 28,954 respondents from 8 states and Puerto Rico who reported receiving an influenza vaccination in the past year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome was a self-reported categoric variable indicating the setting of the most recent seasonal influenza vaccination: doctor's office, pharmacy-based store, or other setting. RESULTS: Multinomial logistic regression results showed that environmental, predisposing, enabling, and need factors in the Andersen model were salient features associated with odds of using pharmacy-based influenza vaccination settings instead of a doctor's office. Residents of states that allowed pharmacists as immunizers before 1999 reported greater use of pharmacy-based store settings (odds ratio [OR] 1.31). Compared with young adults, individuals 65 years of age and older were more likely to choose a pharmacy-based store than a doctor's office (OR 1.41) and less likely to use other community settings (OR 0.45). Compared with non-Hispanic whites, black respondents were less likely to use pharmacy-based store vaccination (OR 0.51), and multiracial and Hispanic respondents were more likely to use other settings (ORs 1.47 and 1.60, respectively). Enabling and need factors were also associated with setting. CONCLUSION: Based on this dataset of selected states from 2014, almost one-fourth of U.S. adults who reported receiving an annual influenza vaccination did so from a pharmacy-based store; 35% reported using other community-based settings that may enlist pharmacists as immunizers. There were striking disparities in use of nontraditional vaccination settings by age and race or ethnicity. Pharmacists and pharmacies should address missed opportunities for vaccination by targeting outreach efforts based on environmental and predisposing characteristics.

Informal learning processes in support of clinical service delivery in a service-oriented community pharmacy.

The evolving health care system necessitates pharmacy organizations' adjustments by delivering new services and establishing inter-organizational relationships. One approach supporting pharmacy organizations in making changes may be informal learning by technicians, pharmacists, and pharmacy owners. Informal learning is characterized by a four-step cycle including intent to learn, action, feedback, and reflection. This framework helps explain individual and organizational factors that influence learning processes within an organization as well as the individual and organizational outcomes of those learning processes. A case study of an Iowa independent community pharmacy with years of experience in offering patient care services was made. Nine semi-structured interviews with pharmacy personnel revealed initial evidence in support of the informal learning model in practice. Future research could investigate more fully the informal learning model in delivery of patient care services in community pharmacies.

Rural access to clinical pharmacy services.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of rural residence and primary care site on use of clinical pharmacy services (CPS) and to describe the use of clinical telepharmacy within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) health care system. METHODS: Using 2011 national VHA data, the frequency of patients with CPS encounters was compared across patient residence (urban or rural) and principal site of primary care (medical center, urban clinic, or rural clinic). The likelihood of CPS utilization was estimated with random effects logistic regression. Individual service types (e.g., anticoagulation clinics) and delivery modes (e.g., telehealth) were also examined. RESULTS: Of 3,040,635 patients, 711,348 (23.4%) received CPS. Service use varied by patient residence (urban: 24.9%; rural: 19.7%) and principal site of primary care (medical center: 25.9%; urban clinic: 22.5%; rural clinic: 17.6%). However, in adjusted analyses, urban-rural differences were explained primarily by primary care site and less so by patient residence. Similar findings were observed for individual CPS types. Telehealth encounters were common, accounting for nearly one-half of patients receiving CPS. Video telehealth was infrequent (<0.2%), but more common among patients of rural clinics than those receiving CPS at medical centers (odds ratio [OR] = 9.7; 95% CI 9.0-10.5). CONCLUSION: We identified a potential disparity between rural and urban patients' access to CPS, which was largely explained by greater reliance on community clinics for primary care than on medical centers. Future research is needed to determine if this disparity will be alleviated by emerging organizational changes, including expanding telehealth capacity and integrating pharmacists into primary care teams, and whether lessons learned at VHA translate to other settings.

Exploring relationships among pharmacy service use, patronage motives, and patient satisfaction.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and identify significant relationships among pharmacy service use, general and service-specific patient satisfaction, pharmacy patronage motives, and marketing awareness in a service-oriented, independent community pharmacy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Midwest United States during May through July 2011. PARTICIPANTS: Stratified random sample of 500 participants. INTERVENTION: Self-reported questionnaire mailed to participants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient satisfaction, pharmacy service use, patronage motives, marketing awareness, and demographics. RESULTS: Study participants were mostly satisfied with the pharmacy services on global and service-specific measures. Patronage motives of relationships, pharmacy atmosphere, and quality previous experience were associated with increased pharmacy service use at the study pharmacy, while a unique service patronage motivation was associated with decreased pharmacy service use at the study pharmacy. Participants citing pharmacy atmosphere and personnel competency as patronage motives did not use pharmacies other than the study pharmacy more often, whereas participants citing unique services as a patronage motive used pharmacies other than the study pharmacy more often. Direct marketing awareness increased pharmacy service awareness but not use. CONCLUSION: Offering unique services may not be enough to bring in patients loyal to all services provided in a pharmacy. Pharmacists should focus on developing strong relationships with patients and conveying competence when delivering appropriate, quality pharmacy services in a professional pharmacy atmosphere.

Three-year financial analysis of pharmacy services at an independent community pharmacy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the financial performance of pharmacy services including vaccinations, cholesterol screenings, medication therapy management (MTM), adherence management services, employee health fairs, and compounding services provided by an independent community pharmacy. METHODS: Three years (2008-10) of pharmacy records were examined to determine the total revenue and costs of each service. Costs included products, materials, labor, marketing, overhead, equipment, reference materials, and fax/phone usage. Costs were allocated to each service using accepted principles (e.g., time for labor). Depending on the service, the total revenue was calculated by multiplying the frequency of the service by the revenue per patient or by adding the total revenue received. A sensitivity analysis was conducted for the adherence management services to account for average dispensing net profit. RESULTS: 7 of 11 pharmacy services showed a net profit each year. Those services include influenza and herpes zoster immunization services, MTM, two adherence management services, employee health fairs, and prescription compounding services. The services that realized a net loss included the pneumococcal immunization service, cholesterol screenings, and two adherence management services. The sensitivity analysis showed that all adherence services had a net gain when average dispensing net profit was included. CONCLUSION: Most of the pharmacist services had an annual positive net gain. It seems likely that these services can be sustained. Further cost management, such as reducing labor costs, could improve the viability of services with net losses. However, even with greater efficiency, external factors such as competition and reimbursement challenge the sustainability of these services.