Pharmacy performance while providing continuous medication monitoring

William R Doucette; Randal P McDonough; Fischer Herald; Amber Goedken; Jenn Funk; Michael J Deninger

doi:10.1016/j.japh.2017.07.006

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Journal article

Pharmacy performance while providing continuous medication monitoring

William R Doucette, Randal P McDonough, Fischer Herald, Amber Goedken, Jenn Funk and Michael J Deninger

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, Vol.57(6), pp.692-697

11/2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2017.07.006

PMID: 28844583

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Abstract

The aim of this work was to assess the effects of continuous medication monitoring (CoMM) on: 1) total costs of care; 2) proportion of days covered (PDC) rates; and 3) use of high-risk medications by older patients. Cohort design. A reimbursed CoMM program was implemented in a community pharmacy to manage problems with medications being dispensed to beneficiaries of a commercial insurer. Pharmacists assessed medications being dispensed, interacted with patients in the pharmacy, and documented their actions. Claims data compared the pharmacy performance for 3 study groups after 12 months of CoMM: group 1, patients with prescriptions dispensed only at the study pharmacy; group 2, patients with prescriptions dispensed from the study pharmacy and other pharmacies; and group 3, patients with no prescriptions dispensed by the study pharmacy. For the analyses, individuals in group 1 (CoMM-only group) were matched with those in group 2 and group 3 by age band, gender, risk category, and utilization band. The variables of interest were per-member per-month total health care costs, medication adherence (PDC), and the use of high-risk medications in older adults. At 12 months, per-member per-month total costs of care were significantly lower (P < 0.05) for group 1 versus group 2 ($309 difference) and for group 1 versus group 3 ($298 difference). At 12 months the average PDC for group 1 was significantly higher than for group 2 (3.8% difference) and group 3 (2.6% difference). No significant differences were found in the use of high-risk medications. A CoMM program in a community pharmacy was associated with lower total costs of care and better medication adherence. Paying pharmacists to proactively address the safety, effectiveness, and adherence of medications at the time of dispensing can support optimization of medication therapy.

Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions - prevention & control

Age Factors

Pharmacists - economics

Humans

Middle Aged

Child, Preschool

Pharmacists - standards

Infant

Male

Professional Role

Medication Therapy Management - standards

Cost Savings

Quality Indicators, Health Care - economics

Young Adult

Time Factors

Adult

Female

Pharmacies - economics

Child

Infant, Newborn

Medication Therapy Management - economics

Risk Factors

Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services

Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions - etiology

Drug Prescriptions

Pharmacies - standards

Health Care Costs

Medication Adherence

Pilot Projects

Community Pharmacy Services - standards

Quality Improvement

Community Pharmacy Services - economics

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Adolescent

Aged

Program Evaluation

Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions - economics

Quality Indicators, Health Care - standards

Details

Title: Subtitle: Pharmacy performance while providing continuous medication monitoring
Creators: William R Doucette
Randal P McDonough
Fischer Herald
Amber Goedken
Jenn Funk
Michael J Deninger
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, Vol.57(6), pp.692-697
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2017.07.006
PMID: 28844583
ISSN: 1544-3191
eISSN: 1544-3450
Language: English
Date published: 11/2017
Academic Unit: Pharmacy Practice and Science
Record Identifier: 9984065322502771

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12 Times Cited - Web of Science

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