New Medicare and Medicaid Data Have Been Reported by Researchers at University of Connecticut (Variability in state Medicaid medication management…

New Medicare and Medicaid Data Have Been Reported by Researchers at University of Connecticut (Variability in state Medicaid medication management initiatives)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Data detailed on Medicare and Medicaid have been presented. According to news reporting originating from Storrs, Connecticut, by VerticalNews correspondents, research stated, "Many U.S. states have expanded Medicaid programs, with over 70 million beneficiaries now enrolled. States' interest in improving care quality and lowering costs has spurred experimentation with several medication management (MM) programs."

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from the University of Connecticut, "The implementation of MM programs for beneficiaries has been sporadic, and program elements and implementation methods have been heterogeneous. A survey was conducted to: (1) determine covered MM services in state Medicaid programs, (2) report innovative MM program findings, and (3) identify challenges in creating sustainable MM programs. The survey was sent to state Medicaid pharmacy directors in February 2015. The survey data focused on the type and extent of pharmacist-provided MM services, MM provider qualifications, patient eligibility criteria and enrollment strategies, MM delivery settings and referral patterns, MM program evaluations, program costs and sustainability models, key implementation challenges, and future program enhancements. Many Medicaid programs generally followed Medicare Part D Medication Therapy Management requirements. Highly variable findings were due to different Medicaid eligibility criteria, pharmacist integration with health teams, access to electronic medical records (EMRs), and MM delivery methods/settings to optimize drug therapy regimens. Several implementation challenges were identified. Pharmacist integration on care teams and access to EMRs improves MM implementation. MM program evaluation funding and data support must be secured prior to program implementation."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "The findings and discussion here can assist states with limited or preliminary Medicaid MM experience to progress toward sustainable programs."

For more information on this research see: Variability in state Medicaid medication management initiatives. Research in Social & Administrative Pharmacy, 2017;13(1):214-223. Research in Social & Administrative Pharmacy can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Inc, 360 Park Ave South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Research in Social & Administrative Pharmacy - www.journals.elsevier.com/research-in-social-and-administrative-pharmacy/)

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting M.A. Smith, University of Connecticut, Sch Pharm, Pharm Practice, Storrs, CT 06269, United States.

Keywords for this news article include: Storrs, Connecticut, United States, North and Central America, Medicare and Medicaid, Health Policy, Medicaid, University of Connecticut.

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