New Medicare and Medicaid Findings from J.T. Ta and Colleagues Discussed (Is There a Relationship Between Part D Medication Adherence and Part C…

New Medicare and Medicaid Findings from J.T. Ta and Colleagues Discussed (Is There a Relationship Between Part D Medication Adherence and Part C Intermediate Outcomes Star Ratings Measures?)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Investigators publish new report on Medicare and Medicaid. According to news reporting originating from San Diego, California, by VerticalNews correspondents, research stated, "Improvements in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) star ratings Part D medication adherence measures may affect performance in Part C intermediate outcome measures for which the Part D targeted medication classes are prescribed. To determine if Part D medication adherence measures are associated with corresponding Part C intermediate outcome measures."

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research, "This was a cross-sectional analysis using the CMS 2015 star ratings report (based on 2013 benefit year plan data) for Medicare contracts. The measures of interest included the Part D adherence measures for diabetes medications, antihypertensive agents, and statins and the Part C intermediate outcome measures for controlled blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. All Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) contracts with complete data for all Part C and D measures of interest were included. Contracts with >= 25% of total enrollment with MA-only benefit were excluded. Linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the association between 2015 Part D adherence measures and Part C intermediate outcome measures (n=366). The regression models were adjusted for low-income subsidy (LIS) beneficiary enrollment and log-transformed (natural logarithm) total contract enrollment. Bivariate linear regression models demonstrated moderate positive associations between each of the 2015 Part D adherence scores and related 2015 Part C measures that explained 27%-29% (R-2) of variance. Including LIS and total contract enrollment in the regression models increased the R-2 to 30%-36%. The multivariate logistic regression models showed that each percentage point of improvement in the 2015 Part D adherence measures was associated with a 4.13 to 4.69 greater odds of performing in the top quartile in corresponding 2015 Part C measures. Moderate positive associations were observed between the Part D and Part C scores in the same benefit year."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "MAPD plans may observe improved Part C intermediate outcome measures with strategies that improve Part D medication adherence measures."

For more information on this research see: Is There a Relationship Between Part D Medication Adherence and Part C Intermediate Outcomes Star Ratings Measures? Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 2016;22(7):787-795. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy can be contacted at: Acad Managed Care Pharmacy, 100 N Pitt St, 400, Alexandria, VA 22314-3134, USA.

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting J.T. Ta, MedImpact Healthcare Syst, San Diego, CA, United States. Additional authors for this research include S.C. Erickson, W.Y. Qiu and B.V. Patel.

Keywords for this news article include: San Diego, California, United States, North and Central America, Medicare and Medicaid, Health Policy, Medicare.

Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2016, NewsRx LLC