Journal of managed care & specialty pharmacy
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J Manag Care Spec Pharm · Sep 2015
Comparative StudyAntipsychotic Adherence and Rehospitalization in Schizophrenia Patients Receiving Oral Versus Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics Following Hospital Discharge.
Antipsychotic medications are a central component of effective treatment for schizophrenia, but nonadherence is a significant problem for the majority of patients. Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medications are a recommended treatment option for nonadherent patients, but evidence regarding their potential advantages has been mixed. Observational data on newer, second-generation LAI antipsychotic medications have been limited given their more recent regulatory approval and availability. ⋯ This claims-based analysis of posthospitalization adherence and rehospitalization outcomes in Medicaid patients with schizophrenia adds to the growing real-world evidence base of the benefits of LAI antipsychotic medications in routine clinical practice, particularly with regard to second-generation LAIs. As new SGA formulations become available for long-acting use, real-world studies with larger sample sizes will be needed to further delineate their potential advantages in terms of clinical outcomes and costs.
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J Manag Care Spec Pharm · Sep 2015
Impact of a Step Therapy for Guanfacine Extended-Release on Medication Utilization and Health Care Expenditures Among Individuals Receiving Treatment for ADHD.
While step therapy (ST) policies are generally effective at reducing cost through the managed utilization of targeted medications, the clinical implications of ST policies are not clear and may vary across therapeutic areas. Guanfacine extended-release (GXR) is approved by the FDA for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as both monotherapy and adjunctive to stimulant treatment. At the introduction of GXR to the market, Humana implemented an ST policy on GXR requiring the documentation of previous treatment, intolerance, or contraindication to generic clonidine or guanfacine. ⋯ The current study found that GXR coverage denial was associated with lower rate of ADHD medication utilization, greater delay in receiving ADHD medication, and lower PDC with ADHD medication. There were no differences observed between the approved and denied group in terms of all-cause total health care or MH-related total health care costs after controlling for potentially confounding variables. Prior to implementation in the ADHD therapeutic area and others, payers should consider the potentially unintended consequences of ST policies, including delay in treatment and undertreatment.
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J Manag Care Spec Pharm · Sep 2015
Persistance and Compliance with Osteroporosis Therapies Among Women in a Commercially Insured Population in the United States.
Prior research has shown that rates of persistence and compliance with osteoporosis therapies are associated with significantly fewer vertebral, nonvertebral, and hip fractures. A number of studies have examined medication-taking behavior with oral bisphosphonates and teriparatide, and these 1-year persistence rates have ranged from 39.9% to 56.7%. Limited real-world data are available regarding persistence and compliance rates with newer therapies such as denosumab, a RANK ligand inhibitor administered every 6 months as a subcutaneous injection. ⋯ In a U.S. setting, rates of persistence and compliance over 12 months were higher among women initiating denosumab compared with those initiating other osteoporosis therapies.