Journal of managed care & specialty pharmacy
-
J Manag Care Spec Pharm · Sep 2018
Opioid Analgesics in Georgia Medicaid: Trends in Potential Inappropriate Prescribing Practices by Demographic Characteristics, 2009-2014.
There has been a dramatic rise in the number of opioid prescriptions and opioid overdose deaths in the United States over the past 15 years. Misuse and abuse of opioids is also a growing public health concern in the United States. Medicaid enrollees are more likely to be prescribed opioids and are at higher risk of prescription drug overdose compared with non-Medicaid populations. Despite rising opioid drug overdose deaths in Georgia, prevalence of indicators for potential inappropriate prescribing practices has not been examined to date. ⋯ This research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01DA039930 and the Georgia Department of Community Health, contract number 2015012. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the Georgia Department of Community Health. The authors have nothing to disclose. A previous version of this paper was presented at the following conferences: International Health Economics Association 12th World Congress; July 8-11, 2017; Boston, MA, and Addiction Health Services Research Conference; October 18-20, 2017; Madison, WI.
-
J Manag Care Spec Pharm · Sep 2018
Observational Study Pragmatic Clinical TrialA Real-World Observational Study of Hospitalization and Health Care Costs Among Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients Prescribed Oral Anticoagulants in the U.S. Medicare Population.
Clinical trials have shown that direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)-including dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban-are at least as effective and safe as warfarin for the risk of stroke/systemic embolism (SE) and major bleeding (MB) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, few studies have compared oral anticoagulants (OACs) among elderly patients. ⋯ This study was funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer. Amin is an employee of the University of California, Irvine, and was a paid consultant to Bristol-Myers Squibb in connection with this study and the development of this manuscript. Keshishian and Zhang are employees of STATinMED Research, a paid consultant to Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb in connection with this study and the development of this manuscript. Trocio, Dina, Mardekian, and Liu are employees of Pfizer, with ownership of stocks in Pfizer. Le, Rosenblatt, Nadkarni, and Vo are employees of Bristol-Myers Squibb. Rosenblatt and Vo have ownership of stocks in Bristol-Myers Squibb. Baser has no conflicts to disclose.
-
J Manag Care Spec Pharm · Sep 2018
What Patients Know About Services to Help Manage Chronic Diseases and Medications: Findings from Focus Groups on Medication Therapy Management.
Managing and treating patients with multiple chronic conditions presents challenges on many levels. Pharmacist-delivered medication therapy management (MTM) services, mandated as part of the Medicare Part D drug benefit, are designed to help patients manage their chronic conditions and medications. ⋯ Grant funding from SinfoniaRx to Taylor, Axon, Campbell, Fair, and Warholak was used to help conduct this project. Boesen is employed by SinfoniaRx. The other authors have nothing to disclose. This original research was presented as a poster at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 27th Annual Meeting and Expo; April 7-10, 2015; San Diego, CA.
-
J Manag Care Spec Pharm · Aug 2018
Observational StudyAn Evaluation of a Multidisciplinary Pediatric Behavioral Health Medication Initiative Workgroup's Interventions on Medication Prescribing in a Population of Medicaid Patients.
In response to concerns surrounding pediatric behavioral health medication prescribing, the Massachusetts Medicaid Pharmacy Program implemented a Pediatric Behavioral Health Medication Initiative (PBHMI), proactively requiring prior authorization for specific behavioral health medications and combination regimens. A multidisciplinary therapeutic class management (TCM) workgroup retrospectively reviews complex cases and conducts prescriber outreach to encourage evidence-based practices in Massachusetts. ⋯ No outside funding supported this study. The authors have nothing to disclose. A poster of this project was presented at the AMCP Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy Annual Meeting 2017; March 27-30, 2017; in Denver, CO.
-
J Manag Care Spec Pharm · Jul 2018
Comparative StudyIntravitreal Aflibercept Versus Ranibizumab for Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in the United States. The most severe vision loss occurs in patients with neovascular AMD, known as wet AMD (wAMD). The most commonly used antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies approved by the FDA to treat patients with wAMD are ranibizumab, 0.5 mg administered by intravitreal injection once a month (approximately every 28 days), and intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI), 2 mg every 4 weeks (monthly) for the first 12 weeks (3 months), followed by IAI 2 mg once every 8 weeks (2 months). Given the similar efficacy and safety profiles between IAI and ranibizumab, their associated costs and comparative cost-effectiveness are key factors in determining which one represents a more rational investment of scarce health care resources to help address the increasing cost of prescription drugs in the United States, a source of concern for patients, prescribers, payers, and policymakers. ⋯ This study was funded by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of aflibercept. Hernandez, Lanitis, Cele, and Toro-Diaz are employed by Evidera, which received funding from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to conduct this study. Gibson and Kuznik are employed by and own stock in Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.