The American journal of managed care
-
To examine differences in the out-of-pocket costs for common generic drugs used to treat chronic conditions when individuals used their Medicare prescription drug plan (PDP) or when purchased through Walmart's generic drug discount programs (GDDPs) from 2009 to 2017. ⋯ Although Medicare beneficiary out-of-pocket costs for commonly used generic drug prescriptions generally decreased over time, Medicare beneficiaries may still be paying more for the same drugs than they would through Walmart's GDDP. Increased generic drug price transparency, including enforcing bans on gag clauses, is needed to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries obtain drugs using the most affordable options.
-
To examine the effects of MD-Value in Prevention (MDVIP) enrollment on Medicare expenditures and utilization among fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries with diabetes over a 5-year period. ⋯ Our finding of reduced unplanned inpatient admissions and ED utilization supports the previous findings regarding MDVIP enrollees. We did not find significant changes in overall third-party expenditures, although savings were estimated in year 5, the last year of observation, and may occur later. Our approach, however, strengthens controls for baseline characteristics of the population and uses a comparison population drawn from the same markets who do not experience the loss of their primary care physician at the time of enrollment.
-
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health disorder hallmarked by a variety of symptoms impacting mental state, emotions, and behaviors, including delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior, negative symptoms, and cognitive impairment. Schizophrenia leaves patients with the inability to function appropriately in their daily lives, including at work, in relationships, and even with self-care. ⋯ Schizophrenia is estimated to affect more than 21 million individuals globally, and while many therapies have become available for management, the disorder still presents unique challenges to providers, caregivers, and the healthcare system. Unmet medical needs remain for this complex disease state, and research is ongoing to address these needs and improve the overall health and outcomes of patients living with schizophrenia.
-
Schizophrenia is a complicated chronic disease affecting approximately 3.5 million people in the United States, and its annual healthcare costs exceed $155 billion. People living with schizophrenia often experience a reduced quality of life (QOL) and are more likely to be homeless, unemployed, or living in poverty compared with the general population. Life expectancy for patients with schizophrenia is 15 to 20 years below the average and is complicated by numerous comorbidities, such as weight gain, increased cardiovascular risk, and changes in mood and cognition. ⋯ Managed care professionals are positioned to improve adherence and outcomes through various drug utilization strategies. Clinicians may also empower patients with schizophrenia through shared decision making and the creation of a therapeutic alliance. Careful monitoring of medication-related adverse effects and offering potential medication alternatives and routes of administration when indicated may also improve adherence to treatment regimens, resulting in improved outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.
-
Up to 10% of the US adult population will experience chronic insomnia, with women and elderly individuals at particularly high risk. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the core treatment for insomnia. When cognitive behavioral therapy is not enough, medications can help patients overcome the barriers and learned behaviors that prevent a good night's sleep. ⋯ To date, only suvorexant and lemborexant have been approved for the treatment of insomnia. However, several other agents are in later stages of development. This article will review the available pharmacotherapeutic options for treating insomnia.