Utilizing clinical pharmacists and a medication assistance program to improve medication access for indigent and underserved patients in primary care
Background: Medication Assistance Programs (MAP) provide needed medications to uninsured and underinsured patients. In 2019, 24% of adults had difficulty affording their medications. Literature has shown enrollment in MAP decreased emergency department (ED) visits, hospital admission, and total hosp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266727662200110X |
| _version_ | 1797837737819111424 |
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| author | Brianna Pickett Tiffany R. Shin Melissa Norton |
| author_facet | Brianna Pickett Tiffany R. Shin Melissa Norton |
| author_sort | Brianna Pickett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Medication Assistance Programs (MAP) provide needed medications to uninsured and underinsured patients. In 2019, 24% of adults had difficulty affording their medications. Literature has shown enrollment in MAP decreased emergency department (ED) visits, hospital admission, and total hospital cost. Objectives: Primary objective described cost savings of MAP in patients identified by pharmacists. Secondary objectives included comparing rates one year before and after MAP utilization for hospitalization, ED visits, and combined hospitalization and ED visits. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of pharmacists in improving medication access. Methods: A retrospective observational cohort was conducted in primary care and family medicine resident clinics. Inclusion criteria included one or more visits with a pharmacist and MAP application between January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. The primary objective and demographics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Secondary objectives were analyzed using paired t-test. Results: In total, 18 patients saved $187,789, with an average of $10,432 per patient, for 35 medications. There were no statistically significant differences in average hospitalizations, ED visits, and combined hospitalizations and ED visits. Conclusions: Pharmacists utilizing MAP resulted in cost savings and increased patient access to medications. The study did not find differences in hospital visits, ED visits, or combined hospital and ED visits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:30:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e1409e7eaa42455aa17a4184c7438153 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2667-2766 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:30:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy |
| spelling | doaj.art-e1409e7eaa42455aa17a4184c74381532023-04-28T08:56:43ZengElsevierExploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy2667-27662023-03-019100211Utilizing clinical pharmacists and a medication assistance program to improve medication access for indigent and underserved patients in primary careBrianna Pickett0Tiffany R. Shin1Melissa Norton2Brodstone Memorial Hospital/Cardinal Health Innovative Delivery Solutions, 520 E. 10th St. Superior, NE 68978, United States of America; University of Kansas-Wichita School of Pharmacy, 1010 N Kansas Bldg 92, Suite 2331, Wichita, KS 67214, United States of America; Ascension Via Christi Hospitals, 1100 N St. Francis, Suite 220, Wichita, KS 67214, United States of America; Corresponding author at: Brodstone Memorial Hospital/Cardinal Health Innovative Delivery Solutions, 520 E. 10th St. Superior, NE 68978, United States of America.University of Kansas-Wichita School of Pharmacy, 1010 N Kansas Bldg 92, Suite 2331, Wichita, KS 67214, United States of AmericaAscension Via Christi Hospitals, 1100 N St. Francis, Suite 220, Wichita, KS 67214, United States of AmericaBackground: Medication Assistance Programs (MAP) provide needed medications to uninsured and underinsured patients. In 2019, 24% of adults had difficulty affording their medications. Literature has shown enrollment in MAP decreased emergency department (ED) visits, hospital admission, and total hospital cost. Objectives: Primary objective described cost savings of MAP in patients identified by pharmacists. Secondary objectives included comparing rates one year before and after MAP utilization for hospitalization, ED visits, and combined hospitalization and ED visits. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of pharmacists in improving medication access. Methods: A retrospective observational cohort was conducted in primary care and family medicine resident clinics. Inclusion criteria included one or more visits with a pharmacist and MAP application between January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. The primary objective and demographics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Secondary objectives were analyzed using paired t-test. Results: In total, 18 patients saved $187,789, with an average of $10,432 per patient, for 35 medications. There were no statistically significant differences in average hospitalizations, ED visits, and combined hospitalizations and ED visits. Conclusions: Pharmacists utilizing MAP resulted in cost savings and increased patient access to medications. The study did not find differences in hospital visits, ED visits, or combined hospital and ED visits.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266727662200110XMedication assistance programPrescription assistance programUnderserved patientsPharmacistsVulnerable populationsInsurance coverage |
| spellingShingle | Brianna Pickett Tiffany R. Shin Melissa Norton Utilizing clinical pharmacists and a medication assistance program to improve medication access for indigent and underserved patients in primary care Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy Medication assistance program Prescription assistance program Underserved patients Pharmacists Vulnerable populations Insurance coverage |
| title | Utilizing clinical pharmacists and a medication assistance program to improve medication access for indigent and underserved patients in primary care |
| title_full | Utilizing clinical pharmacists and a medication assistance program to improve medication access for indigent and underserved patients in primary care |
| title_fullStr | Utilizing clinical pharmacists and a medication assistance program to improve medication access for indigent and underserved patients in primary care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilizing clinical pharmacists and a medication assistance program to improve medication access for indigent and underserved patients in primary care |
| title_short | Utilizing clinical pharmacists and a medication assistance program to improve medication access for indigent and underserved patients in primary care |
| title_sort | utilizing clinical pharmacists and a medication assistance program to improve medication access for indigent and underserved patients in primary care |
| topic | Medication assistance program Prescription assistance program Underserved patients Pharmacists Vulnerable populations Insurance coverage |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266727662200110X |
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