Disparities in Medicare beneficiaries' receiving medication synchronization.

BACKGROUND: Medication synchronization (med-sync) aligns patients' monthly or quarterly chronic medications to a predetermined single pickup date at a community pharmacy. The study objective was to examine med-sync enrollment disparities based on Medicare beneficiaries' predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using a Medicare dataset of beneficiaries receiving medications from pharmacies that self-identified as providing med-sync. Medicare beneficiaries who were continuously enrolled in fee-for-service medical and pharmacy benefits during the study period (2014-2016) were included. Study cohorts (med-sync and non-med-sync patients) were defined, and bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Andersen's Health Services Utilization Model guided our inclusion of predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics to examine for association with med-sync enrollment. RESULTS: A total of 170,180 beneficiaries were included, of which 13,193 comprised the med-sync cohort and 156,987 comprised the non-med-sync cohort. Bivariate logistic regression analysis revealed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in cohorts based on age, geographic region, type of residence, number of unique chronic medications, comorbidities, outpatient visits, and inpatient hospitalizations. Beneficiaries had higher odds of being enrolled in med-sync with increasing age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.003 [95% CI 1.001-1.005]) and if they resided in the Northeast (AOR 1.094 [95% CI 1.018-1.175]), South (AOR 1.109 [95% CI 1.035-1.188]), and West (AOR 1.113 [95% CI 1.020-1.215]) than those in the Midwest. Beneficiaries residing in nonmetro areas had lower odds of enrollment (AOR 0.914 [95% CI 0.863-0.969]) than those in metro areas. Beneficiaries with previous fewer inpatient hospitalizations (AOR 0.945 [95% CI 0.914-0.977]) were more likely to be enrolled, and those with more outpatient visits (AOR 1.003 [95% CI 1.001-1.004]) were more likely to be enrolled. Those taking a higher number of oral chronic medications (AOR 1.005 [95% CI 1.002-1.008]) had greater odds of enrollment in med-sync. CONCLUSIONS: Med-sync program expansion opportunities exist to address potential enrollment disparities based on age, geographic region, metropolitan area, and prior health utilization. Further studies are needed to develop and examine strategies among pharmacies to improve med-sync enrollment outreach to these subgroups of patients.

Effect of pharmacy-led interventions during care transitions on patient hospital readmission: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) established the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) to reduce reimbursement payments to hospitals with excessive patient readmissions. Because of this program, hospitals have developed transitions of care (TOC) programs to improve patient outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To identify and uniformly summarize the impact of pharmacy-led TOC interventions on 30-day readmission rates since the implementation of CMS HRRP. METHODS: This study followed an a-priori protocol that was registered to International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and CINAHL from January 1, 2013 through January 14, 2022. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: pharmacy-led intervention, 30-day readmission outcomes, patients at least 18 years old, original research performed in the United States, and English language only articles. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize study characteristics, outcomes, and elements of the study interventions. RESULTS: A total of 1964 abstracts were screened with 123 studies being included in the review. A total of 110 (89.4%) studies showed a decrease in readmission rates. The largest decrease in readmission rates was 44.5% (range 0.2%-44.5%, median = 7.4%) and the most common pharmacy-led intervention was patient counseling (n = 119, 96.7%) followed by medication reconciliation (n = 111, 90.2%). High-risk patient populations were commonly targeted with 52 studies (42.3%) focusing on CMS HRRP related diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Most pharmacist-led TOC interventions contributed to lower rates of 30-day readmission. Future studies should investigate the types of interventions that most significantly impact readmission rates.

Evaluation of quality measure attainment with pharmacist-delivered Medicare annual wellness visits.

BACKGROUND: Medicare is required to fully cover annual wellness visits (AWVs) to increase access to preventive care. As health care converts to pay for performance models, clinical quality measures have increasing importance. Few studies have investigated the effect of pharmacist-delivered AWVs on clinical quality measure attainment in a rural family medicine (FM) clinic setting. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate attainment of clinical quality measures for pharmacist-delivered AWVs compared with physician-delivered AWVs (usual care). Secondary objectives included assessment of the number and type of drug therapy problems (DTPs) identified by pharmacists during AWVs. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted within an FM clinic located in southwest Georgia. Two cohorts were created according to the provider of AWVs during 2017: pharmacist or physician-usual care. Data on quality measure eligibility, attainment, and DTPs (for the pharmacist group only) were collected through electronic chart review. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize variables, and chi-square (or Fisher exact where appropriate) tests to compare the proportion of clinical quality measures attained between groups. RESULTS: Among 334 delivered AWVs, pharmacists performed 68.6%. Approximately 62% of pharmacist and usual care visits were female with mean ages of 72 (SD +/- 9.1) and 62 (SD +/- 13.9) years, respectively. Pharmacist-delivered AWVs had statistically significant greater quality measure attainment in the following categories: advance care planning, osteoporosis cardiovascular screenings, and Tdap vaccinations compared with usual care (P < 0.05). Usual care had statistically significant greater quality measure attainment for diabetes screening. Seventy-five DTPs were identified in the pharmacist group, with the majority being related to adherence (39%). CONCLUSION: Pharmacist-delivered AWVs had greater quality measure attainment in several areas than usual care. Furthermore, increased quality measure attainment may assist in meeting benchmarks set by payers to ensure ongoing reimbursement of these services.

Impact of pharmacist prescribing through direct pharmacy access policies on access to hormonal contraception.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: This study assesses the impact of direct pharmacy access (DPA) policies that allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives on women's access by comparing access among 3 groups: (1) women in a state without DPA (Indiana), (2) women in a state with DPA, but not using DPA, and (3) women in a state with DPA and using DPA. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey, including a scale to measure access to contraceptives, perception items, and demographics, was distributed through Amazon Mechanical Turk (Amazon.com, Inc). Kruskal-Wallis tests and linear regression analysis were used. RESULTS: The sample size was 316. When controlling for education, income, and age, the women not using DPA (in Indiana and a DPA state, respectively) reported significantly higher levels of approachability (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), acceptability (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), availability and accommodation (P < 0.001 and P = 0.009, respectively), affordability (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), and appropriateness (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) access than the women using DPA. The women using DPA reported significantly lower levels of privacy access than those not using DPA in a DPA state (P = 0.004) when controlling for education, income, and age. However, 78.9% of women using DPA agreed DPA made obtaining contraceptives easier. Most of the women who had never used DPA were previously unaware of DPA (81.1% in DPA states and 86.2% in Indiana) but felt that it would improve access (82.8% and 80.0%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Understanding the effects of DPA policies on women's access to contraceptives can inform future policies and support implementation. Lower levels of access across all dimensions among those using DPA may be influenced by imperfect implementation and failure to legislatively enable the sustainability of this service rather than pharmacists' ability to improve women's access.

Impact of an Oral Antineoplastic Renewal Clinic on Medication Possession Ratio and Cost-Savings.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-driven oral antineoplastic (OAN) renewal clinic on medication adherence and cost savings. METHODS: This was a preimplementation and postimplementation retrospective cohort evaluation within a single US Department of Veterans Affairs health care system following implementation of a pharmacist-managed OAN refill clinic. The primary outcome was medication adherence defined as the median medication possession ratio (MPR) before and after implementation of the clinic. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of patients who were adherent from pre- to postimplementation and estimated cost-savings of this clinic. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they had received at least 2 prescriptions of the most commonly prescribed oral antineoplastic agents at the institution between September 1, 2013 and January 31, 2015. RESULTS: Of preimplementation patients, 96 of 99 (96.9%) were male and all patients (n = 35) in the postimplementation group were male. The mean age of the preimplementation group was 69.2 years while the postimplementation group was 68.4 years. Median MPR in the preimplementation group was 0.94, compared with 1.06 in the postimplementation group (P < .001). Thirty-six (36.7%) patients in the preimplementation group were considered nonadherent to their OAN regimen compared with zero patients in the postimplementation group. Estimated total cost savings was $36,335 in the postimplementation period. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a pharmacist-driven OAN renewal clinic was associated with a 12% increase in median MPR while saving an estimated $36,335 during the 5-month postimplementation period.

Positive deviants for medication therapy management: A mixed-methods comparative case study of community pharmacy practices.

BACKGROUND: To optimize medication use in older adults, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services as part of Medicare Part D policy; however, strategies for achieving high quality MTM outcomes are not well understood. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to generate hypotheses for strategies contributing to community pharmacies' high performance on policy-relevant MTM quality measures. METHODS: This mixed-methods comparative case study was guided by the Positive Deviance approach and Chronic Care Model. The study population consisted of pharmacy staff employed by a Midwestern division of a national supermarket-community pharmacy chain. Data consisted of demographics and qualitative data from semi-structured interviews. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed deductively and inductively or using descriptive statistics, respectively. MTM quality measures used to evaluate participant pharmacies' MTM performance mirrored select 2017 Medicare Part D Plans' Star Rating measures. RESULTS: Thirteen of 18 selected case pharmacies (72.2%) participated in this study, of which 5 were categorized as high performers, 4 moderate performers, and 4 low performers. Eleven pharmacists, 11 technicians, and 3 student interns participated in interviews. Eight strategies were hypothesized as contributing to MTM performance: Strong pharmacy staff-provider relationships and trust, Inability to address patients' social determinants of health (negatively contributing), Technician involvement in MTM, Providing comprehensive medication reviews in person vs. phone alone, Placing high priority on MTM, Using available clinical information systems to identify eligible patients, Technicians using clinical information systems to collect/document information for pharmacists, Faxing prescribers adherence medication therapy problems (MTPs) and calling on indication MTPs. CONCLUSIONS: Eight strategies were hypothesized as contributing to community pharmacies' performance on MTM quality measures. Findings from this work can inform MTM practice and Medicare Part D MTM policy changes to positively influence patient outcomes. Future research should test hypotheses in a larger representative sample of pharmacies.

Nationwide estimates of medication therapy management delivery under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the national delivery of medication therapy management (MTM) to Medicare beneficiaries in 2013 and 2014. METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study using the 100% sample of 2013 and 2014 Part D MTM data files. We quantified descriptive statistics (counts and percentages, in addition to means and standard deviations) to summarize the delivery of these services and compare delivery between 2013 and 2014. RESULTS: Medicare beneficiaries eligible for MTM increased from 4,281,733 in 2013 to 4,552,547 in 2014. Among eligible beneficiaries, the number and percentage who were offered a comprehensive medication review (CMR) increased from 3,473,004 (81.1%) to 4,394,822 (96.5%), and beneficiaries receiving a CMR increased from 526,203 (12.3%) to 767,286 (16.9%). In 2014, CMRs were most frequently delivered by telephone (83.2%) and provided by either a plan sponsor (29.0%) or an MTM vendor in-house pharmacist (35.0%). In 2014, pharmacists provided 93.5% of all CMRs, and other providers (e.g., nurses and physicians) provided 6.5% of CMRs. Few patients who received a CMR received more than 1 within the same year (2.2% in 2014). Medication therapy problem (MTP) resolution among patients receiving a CMR stayed roughly the same between 2013 and 2014 (19.2% vs. 18.7%, respectively; P < 0.001). Finally, most beneficiaries (96.9% in 2014) received a targeted medication review, regardless of whether a CMR was offered or provided. CONCLUSION: More than 4 million Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in Part D MTM in both 2013 and 2014. However, less than 20% of eligible beneficiaries received a CMR during those years, and rates of MTP resolution were low. Future evaluation of Part D MTM delivery should examine changes in eligibility criteria and delivery over time to inform MTM policy and changes in practice.

Patterns and predictors of older adult Medicare Part D beneficiaries' receipt of medication therapy management.

BACKGROUND: Medicare Part D medication therapy management (MTM) includes an annual comprehensive medication review (CMR) as a strategy to mitigate suboptimal medication use in older adults. OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries who were eligible, offered, and received a CMR in 2013 and 2014 and identify potential disparities. METHODS: This nationally representative cross-sectional study used a 20% random sample of Medicare Part A, B, and D data linked with Part D MTM files. A total of 5,487,343 and 5,822,188 continuously enrolled beneficiaries were included in 2013 and 2014, respectively. CMR use was examined among a subset of 620,164 and 669,254 of these beneficiaries enrolled in the MTM program in 2013 and 2014. Main measures were MTM eligibility, CMR offer, and CMR receipt. The Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use informed covariates selected. RESULTS: In 2013 and 2014, 505,658 (82%) and 649,201 (97%) MTM eligible beneficiaries were offered a CMR, respectively. Among those, CMR receipt increased from 81,089 (16%) in 2013 to 119,181 (18%) in 2014. The mean age of CMR recipients was 75 years (±7) and the majority were women, White, and without low-income status. In 2014, lower odds of CMR receipt were associated with increasing age (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.99 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.994-0.995), male sex (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.926-0.951), being any non-White race/ethnicity except Black, dual-Medicaid status (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.626-0.650), having a hospitalization (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.839-0.893) or emergency department visit (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.658-0.686), and number of comorbidities (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.896-0.905). CONCLUSIONS: CMR offers and completion rates have increased, but disparities in CMR receipt by age, sex, race, and dual-Medicaid status were evident. Changes to MTM targeting criteria and CMR offer strategies may be warranted to address disparities.

Medication Therapy Management Delivery by Community Pharmacists: Insights from a National Sample of Medicare Part D Beneficiaries.

INTRODUCTION: The Medicare Part D medication therapy management (MTM) program positions pharmacists to optimize beneficiaries' medications and improve care. Little is known regarding Part D MTM delivery by community pharmacists and other pharmacist provider types. OBJECTIVES: To (1) characterize Medicare Part D MTM delivery by community pharmacists, (2) compare MTM delivery by community pharmacists to other pharmacists, and (3) generate hypotheses for future research. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study using merged data from a 20% random sample of Medicare beneficiary enrollment data with a 100% sample of recently available 2014 Part D MTM files was conducted. Andersen's Behavioral Model was applied to describe MTM delivery across beneficiary characteristics. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were used to compare delivery of MTM between community and other pharmacist providers. RESULTS: Among beneficiaries sampled, community pharmacists provided comprehensive medication reviews (CMRs) to 22% (n=26,337) of beneficiaries receiving at least one CMR. Almost half (49.4%) were provided face-to-face. Across pharmacist cohorts, median days to CMR offer of post-MTM program enrollment were within the 60-day policy requirement. The community pharmacist cohort had fewer days from CMR offer to receipt (median 47 days). Community pharmacists provided more medication therapy problem (MTP) recommendations (mean [SD] of 1.8 [3.5]; p<0.001), but resolved less MTPs (0.2 [0.7]; p<0.001), and most commonly served beneficiaries that were in the south but less in the west/northeast. Additionally, community pharmacists served a smaller proportion of black beneficiaries, yet a larger proportion of Hispanic beneficiaries (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Community pharmacists provided approximately one in five CMRs for MTM eligible beneficiaries in 2014, with CMRs occurring more quickly, resulting in more MTP recommendations, but resolving less MTPs than those provided by non-community pharmacists. Future research should explore geographic/racial-ethnic disparities in beneficiaries served and strategies to increase negligible MTP resolution by community pharmacists.

Usability Assessment of Secure Messaging for Clinical Document Sharing between Health Care Providers and Patients.

BACKGROUND: Web-based patient portals feature secure messaging systems that enable health care providers and patients to communicate information. However, little is known about the usability of these systems for clinical document sharing. OBJECTIVE: This article evaluates the usability of a secure messaging system for providers and patients in terms of its ability to support sharing of electronic clinical documents. METHODS: We conducted usability testing with providers and patients in a human-computer interaction laboratory at a Midwestern U.S. hospital. Providers sent a medication list document to a fictitious patient via secure messaging. Separately, patients retrieved the clinical document from a secure message and returned it to a fictitious provider. We collected use errors, task completion, task time, and satisfaction. RESULTS: Twenty-nine individuals participated: 19 providers (6 physicians, 6 registered nurses, and 7 pharmacists) and 10 patients. Among providers, 11 (58%) attached and sent the clinical document via secure messaging without requiring assistance, in a median (range) of 4.5 (1.8-12.7) minutes. No patients completed tasks without moderator assistance. Patients accessed the secure messaging system within 3.6 (1.2-15.0) minutes; retrieved the clinical document within 0.8 (0.5-5.7) minutes; and sent the attached clinical document in 6.3 (1.5-18.1) minutes. Although median satisfaction ratings were high, with 5.8 for providers and 6.0 for patients (scale, 0-7), we identified 36 different use errors. Physicians and pharmacists requested additional features to support care coordination via health information technology, while nurses requested features to support efficiency for their tasks. CONCLUSION: This study examined the usability of clinical document sharing, a key feature of many secure messaging systems. Our results highlight similarities and differences between provider and patient end-user groups, which can inform secure messaging design to improve learnability and efficiency. The observations suggest recommendations for improving the technical aspects of secure messaging for clinical document sharing.

Access to Medical Records' Impact on Community Pharmacist-Delivered Medication Therapy Management: A Pilot From the Medication Safety Research Network of Indiana (Rx-SafeNet).

BACKGROUND:: Medication therapy management (MTM) may be optimized if pharmacists engaged in health information exchange (HIE) by reviewing unedited medical records. METHODS:: In this nonblinded, randomized, controlled pilot, pharmacists delivered a part of MTM, comprehensive medication reviews (CMRs), to adult patients in a practice-based research network (PBRN). Intervention community pharmacists solicited the last 6 months of patients' primary care provider-held, unedited medical records. The primary and secondary outcomes were the number of medication-related problems (MRPs) and preventive care omissions identified. The intervention was analyzed via Mann-Whitney U test and multivariate linear regression models. Pharmacists were surveyed regarding the available health history's helpfulness in CMR delivery. RESULTS:: Thirty-seven patients received CMRs across the 2 groups. Intervention pharmacists (n = 4) identified significantly more MRPs (median = 11 vs 6; B = 6.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.005-13.96; P = .049) and omissions in preventive care (24% vs 17%; B = 2.78, 95% CI: 0.46-5.10; P = .009) than usual care pharmacists (n = 3). Intervention pharmacists were more likely to agree they were confident they identified all of the patient's MRPs (47.1% vs 15.8%), but neither group was more likely than the other to believe they had resolved all MRPs (41.2% vs 42.1%). Finally, intervention pharmacists agreed 100% of the time that the available health history helped them complete a better CMR, compared with only 69% of usual care pharmacists. CONCLUSION:: In this pilot, community pharmacists identified more MRPs and omissions in preventive care when they reviewed unedited medical records. Larger studies are warranted to determine whether HIE can improve outcomes.

Pharmacists' experiences with a telephonic medication therapy management program for home health care patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to better understand perceived barriers and facilitators to providing medication therapy management (MTM) services by pharmacists who recently provided telephonic MTM services to home health care patients. These services were provided as part of a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) to develop suggested quality improvement strategies for future service design. DESIGN: This was a qualitative study. A semi-structured individual interview format was used to elicit responses. SETTING: Interviews were conducted by phone with participants. PARTICIPANTS: All pharmacists who recently provided telephonic MTM services as a part of an RCT participated in this study. INTERVENTIONS: Pharmacists were asked questions regarding their perceptions of the services, training opportunities, patient perceptions of the services, interactions with physicians, and suggestions for improvement. General demographic information was collected for each pharmacist and summarized using descriptive statistics. Interview data were analyzed using inductive qualitative methods to reveal key themes related to facilitators and barriers of MTM services in home health care patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were major themes identified from pharmacist interviews pertaining to barriers, facilitators, and quality improvement strategies for telephonic MTM delivery. RESULTS: A total of four pharmacists (i.e., 100% of those who participated in the prior RCT) were interviewed. Several themes emerged from the analysis, including: communication and relationships, coordinating care and patient self-management, logistics, professional fulfillment, service delivery and content, and training opportunities. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides possible strategies to overcome barriers and facilitate service provision for future telephonic MTM services.

Predictors of medication-related problems among medicaid patients participating in a pharmacist-provided telephonic medication therapy management program.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of medication-related problems (MRPs) among Medicaid patients participating in a telephonic medication therapy management (MTM) program. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of data from patients enrolled in a previously published study. DATA SOURCES: Two Medicaid administrative claims file databases (for health care utilization and prescription dispensing information) and one pharmacy organization file for MTM program information. PATIENTS: Seven hundred twelve adult Medicaid patients who participated in a statewide pharmacist-provided telephone-based MTM program and who received an initial medication therapy review. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary dependent variable was the number of MRPs detected during the initial medication therapy review. Secondary dependent variables were the detection of one or more MRPs related to indication, effectiveness, safety, and adherence. Predictor variables were selected a priori that, from the literature and our own practice experiences, were hypothesized as being potentially associated with MRPs: demographics, comorbidities, medication use, and health care utilization. Bivariate analyses were performed, and multivariable models were constructed. All predictor variables with significant associations (defined a priori as p<0.1) with the median number of MRPs detected were then entered into a three-block multiple linear regression model. The overall model was significant (p<0.001, R(2)  = 0.064). Significant predictors of any MRPs (p<0.05) were total number of medications, obesity, dyslipidemia, and one or more emergency department visits in the past 3 months. For indication-related MRPs, the model was significant (p<0.001, R(2)  = 0.049), and predictors included female sex, obesity, dyslipidemia, and total number of medications (p<0.05). For effectiveness-related MRPs, the model was significant (p<0.001, R(2)  = 0.054), and predictors included bone disease and dyslipidemia (p<0.05). For safety-related MRPs, the model was significant (p<0.001, R(2)  = 0.046), and dyslipidemia was a predictor (p<0.05). No significant predictors of adherence-related MRPs were identified. CONCLUSION: This analysis supports the relative importance of number of medications as a predictor of MRPs in the Medicaid population and identifies other predictors. However, given the models' low R(2) values, these findings indicate that other unknown factors are clearly important and that criteria commonly used for determining MTM eligibility may be inadequate in identifying appropriate patients for MTM in a Medicaid population.

A randomized, controlled pragmatic trial of telephonic medication therapy management to reduce hospitalization in home health patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a telephonic medication therapy management (MTM) service on reducing hospitalizations among home health patients. SETTING: Forty randomly selected, geographically diverse home health care centers in the United States. DESIGN: Two-stage, randomized, controlled trial with 60-day follow-up. All Medicare- insured home health care patients were eligible to participate. Twenty-eight consecutive patients within each care center were recruited and randomized to usual care or MTM intervention. The MTM intervention consisted of the following: (1) initial phone call by a pharmacy technician to verify active medications; (2) pharmacist-provided medication regimen review by telephone; and (3) follow-up pharmacist phone calls at day seven and as needed for 30 days. The primary outcome was 60-day all-cause hospitalization. DATA COLLECTION: Data were collected from in-home nursing assessments using the OASIS-C. Multivariate logistic regression modeled the effect of the MTM intervention on the probability of hospitalization while adjusting for patients' baseline risk of hospitalization, number of medications taken daily, and other OASIS-C data elements. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A total of 895 patients (intervention n = 415, control n = 480) were block-randomized to the intervention or usual care. There was no significant difference in the 60-day probability of hospitalization between the MTM intervention and control groups (Adjusted OR: 1.26, 95 percent CI: 0.89-1.77, p = .19). For patients within the lowest baseline risk quartile (n = 232), the intervention group was three times more likely to remain out of the hospital at 60 days (Adjusted OR: 3.79, 95 percent CI: 1.35-10.57, p = .01) compared to the usual care group. CONCLUSIONS: This MTM intervention may not be effective for all home health patients; however, for those patients with the lowest-risk profile, the MTM intervention prevented patients from being hospitalized at 60 days.

Effectiveness of a pharmacy care management program for veterans with dyslipidemia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a care management program provided by clinical pharmacists for veterans with dyslipidemia. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort design. SETTING: Two primary care clinics at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. PATIENTS: An intervention (IT) cohort of 213 patients referred for management of dyslipidemia by clinical pharmacists and a control cohort of 219 patients with dyslipidemia receiving usual care (UC). METHODS: Data were obtained from electronic medical records regarding drug therapy, lipid levels, and patient characteristics. Using multivariable regression models to adjust for baseline characteristics, the primary analyses compared mean final measured values of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides (TGs) among the IT and UC cohorts at the final follow-up visits. Secondary analyses compared the proportion of patients achieving National Cholesterol Education Program/Third Report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (NCEP/ATPIII) concordant LDL goals and the time to achieve LDL goals between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with the UC cohort, the adjusted difference in the mean final measured LDL for the IT cohort was -10.4 mg/dl (95% confidence interval [CI] -16.1 to -4.6, p < 0.001) and TC was -12.7 (95% CI -21.3 to -4.1, p=0.004). There were no significant differences in the adjusted mean final measured HDL or TGs between the two groups. The NCEP/ATPIII goal LDL was met in 80.3% of patients in the IT cohort and 65.3% of patients in the UC cohort (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; 95% CI 1.6-4.3, p<0.001). Time to achieve goal LDL was significantly shorter for the IT cohort compared with the UC cohort (risk ratio, 1.8; 95% CI 1.2-2.8, log-rank p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Veterans referred to a clinical pharmacist for treatment of dyslipidemia achieved significant reductions in TC and LDL. A greater proportion of patients achieved NCEP/ATPIII goal LDL, and the time to attainment of LDL goals was shorter in the pharmacist-managed cohort, supporting a continued role for pharmacy care management in the treatment of patients with dyslipidemia.

Evaluation of specialized medication packaging combined with medication therapy management: adherence, outcomes, and costs among Medicaid patients.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the effect of a program combing specialized medication packaging and telephonic medication therapy management on medication adherence, health care utilization, and costs among Medicaid patients. RESEARCH DESIGN: A retrospective cohort design compared Medicaid participants who voluntarily enrolled in the program (n = 1007) compared with those who did not (n = 13,614). Main outcome measures were medication adherence at 12 months, hospital admissions and emergency department visits at 6 and 12 months, and total paid claim costs at 6 and 12 months. Multivariate regression models were used to adjust for the effect of age, sex, race, comorbidities, and 12-month preenrollment health care utilization. RESULTS: Measures of medication adherence were significantly improved in the program cohort compared with the usual care cohort. At 6 months, adjusted all-cause hospitalization was marginally less in the program cohort compared with the usual care cohort [odds ratio = 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.54-1.0, P = 0.05]. No statistically significant differences were observed between the 2 cohorts for any of the other adjusted utilization endpoints at 6 or 12 months. Adjusted total cost at 6 and 12 months were higher in the program cohort (6-month cost ratio = 1.76, 95% CI,1.65-1.89; 12-month cost ratio = 1.84, 95% CI,1.72-1.97), primarily because of an increase in prescription costs. Emergency department visits and hospitalization costs did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: : The program improved measures of medication adherence, but the effect on health care utilization and nonpharmacy costs at 6 and 12 months was not different from the usual care group. Reasons for these findings may reflect differences in the delivery of the specialized packaging and the medication therapy management program, health care behaviors in this Medicaid cohort, unadjusted confounding, or time required for the benefit of the intervention to manifest.

Effectiveness of a hypertension care management program provided by clinical pharmacists for veterans.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a hypertension care management program provided by clinical pharmacists. DESIGN: Pre- and postintervention design with retrospective medical record review. SETTING: Tertiary care Veterans Affairs medical center and affiliated primary care clinics. PATIENTS: Five hundred seventy-three veterans with hypertension who were referred to the program between June 1, 2007, and May 31, 2008. INTERVENTION: Participation in the hypertension care management program provided by clinical pharmacists who met individually with patients, orchestrated drug therapy, and provided patient counseling. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The following data were collected from patients' medical records: demographics, date of program referral, dates of pharmacist visits, blood pressure at each visit, concurrent antihypertensive drugs and their dosages, drug changes at each visit, as well as patient education topics discussed during a visit. To ensure a minimum of 6 months of follow-up data for all patients, data collection continued through November 30, 2008, for a total study duration of 18 months. The primary study outcome was the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements at the final pharmacist care management visit and those measurements at the initial pharmacist visit. Systolic blood pressure decreased from a mean ± SD of 141.3 ± 18.5 mm Hg at the initial pharmacist visit to 130.1 ± 13.8 mm Hg at the final pharmacist visit, and diastolic blood pressure decreased from 79.1 ± 12.2 to 74.5 ± 10.3 mm Hg (p<0.001 for both comparisons). The secondary outcome was the proportion of patients reaching blood pressure treatment goals at the final visit compared with the initial pharmacist visit. Of the 573 patients, 431 (75.2%) reached blood pressure treatment goals at the final visit (p ≤ 0.001) compared with 221 (38.6%) at the initial visit. The study patients had several comorbid diseases, including diabetes mellitus (196 patients [34.2%]) and chronic kidney disease (43 patients [7.5%]). Both study outcomes were also assessed for these subgroups. CONCLUSION: Patients referred to the hypertension care management program had a significant reduction in blood pressure, and most met their blood pressure treatment goals. This pharmacist-managed program may be an efficient method of care delivery to improve patient outcomes.

Tobacco use and cessation among veterans recovering from stroke or TIA: a qualitative assessment and implications for rehabilitation.

PURPOSE: To understand factors associated with tobacco use and related tobacco cessation among veterans recovering from stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) that will facilitate design of a tailored intervention for rehabilitation services. METHODS: Four focus groups were conducted with veterans who were smokers prior to an incident stroke or TIA along with their spouse or caregiver. Focus groups addressed tobacco use, cessation, and barriers to quitting during the recovery and maintenance periods. Focus group discussions were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using an inductive qualitative method. RESULTS: Twenty-eight veterans and spouses/caregivers participated. Five themes emerged from analysis: existing helpful resources for cessation, existing unhelpful resources, barriers and facilitators to cessation, desired resources for quitting, and association of stroke/TIA with tobacco use. Pharmacotherapy and support from medical providers were perceived as helpful whereas group programs and flyers were perceived as unhelpful. Barriers to quitting included boredom and lack of social support; facilitators included social support and the cost of tobacco products. Vocational and rehabilitation programs were highly desirable resources for quitting. Participants did not perceive their stroke/TIA to be associated with tobacco use. CONCLUSION: Results identified several issues concerning tobacco use and cessation relevant to patients recovering from stroke/TIA. These results can inform the development of a tailored cessation intervention for integration into rehabilitation and recovery treatment plans for patients with stroke/TIA.

The structure and content of telephonic scripts found useful in a Medicaid Chronic Disease Management Program.

In 2003, the Indiana Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning launched the Indiana Chronic Disease Management Program (ICDMP), a programme intended to improve the health and healthcare utilization of 15,000 Aged, Blind and Disabled Medicaid members living with diabetes and/or congestive heart failure in Indiana. Within ICDMP, programme components derived from the Chronic Care Model and education based on an integrated theoretical framework were utilized to create a telephonic care management intervention that was delivered by trained, non-clinical Care Managers (CMs) working under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. CMs utilized computer-assisted health education scripts to address clinically important topics, including medication adherence, diet, exercise and prevention of disease-specific complications. Employing reflective listening techniques, barriers to optimal self-management were assessed and members were encouraged to engage in health-improving actions. ICDMP evaluation results suggest that this low-intensity telephonic intervention shifted utilization and lowered costs. We discuss this patient-centred method for motivating behaviour change, the theoretical constructs underlying the scripts and the branched-logic format that makes them suitable to use as a computer-based application. Our aim is to share these public-domain materials with other programmes.

The Indiana Chronic Disease Management Program's impact on medicaid claims: a longitudinal, statewide evaluation.

BACKGROUND: : Disease management programs have grown in popularity over the past decade as a strategy to curb escalating healthcare costs for persons with chronic diseases. OBJECTIVES: : To evaluate the effect of the Indiana Chronic Disease Management Program (ICDMP) on the longitudinal changes in Medicaid claims statewide. RESEARCH DESIGN: : Phased implementation of a chronic disease management program in 3 regions of the state. Fourteen repeated cohorts of Medicaid members were drawn over a period of 3.5 years and the trends in claims were evaluated using a repeated measures model. SUBJECTS: : A total of 44,218 Medicaid members with diabetes and/or congestive heart failure in 3 geographic regions in Indiana. RESULTS: : Across all 3 regions and both disease classes, we found a flattening of cost trends between the pre- and post-ICDMP-initiation periods. This change in the slopes was significant for all of the models except for congestive heart failure in southern Indiana. Thus, the average per member claims paid was increasing at a faster rate before ICDMP but slowed once the program was initiated. To distinguish shorter and longer-term effects related to ICDMP, we estimated annual slopes within the pre- and post-ICDMP- time periods. A similar pattern was found in all regions: claims were increasing before ICDMP, flattened in the years around program initiation, and remained flat in the final year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: : This analysis shows that the trend in average total claims changed significantly after the implementation of ICDMP, with a decline in the rate of increase in claims paid observed for targeted Medicaid program populations across the state of Indiana.