WOONSOCKET, R.I., Sept. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A new CVS Health
(NYSE: CVS) Research Institute study published today in JAMA
Internal Medicine is the first to evaluate the impact of narrow
pharmacy networks on medication adherence. The analysis showed that
this approach, which incentivizes plan members to use specific
in-network pharmacies, is associated with improved medication
adherence. In addition, the researchers observed an even greater
impact on adherence when there were 90-day prescription programs
also in place. Narrow networks have previously been criticized for
limiting access and adversely impacting medication adherence.
"There are few opportunities in health care when we can improve
both quality of care and health outcomes while helping to manage
health care costs," said William H. Shrank, MD, MSHS, senior vice
president and Chief Scientific Officer, CVS Health and a study
author. "This first-of-its-kind study suggests that narrow networks
may be one such opportunity by providing clear evidence that these
networks – already an established cost management strategy – also
help optimize members' adherence."
The researchers reviewed de-identified pharmacy claims data for
more than 200,000 patients on chronic therapies to treat high
cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and depression over a
12-month period. These patients received prescription drug coverage
through CVS/caremark, the pharmacy benefit management (PBM)
business of CVS Health. The study found that those patients in
commercial drug plans with narrow pharmacy networks had improved
medication adherence as indicated by their medication possession
ratio (MPR), which measures patients' available medication on hand
over time and is commonly used as an indication of adherence. The
researchers also found that if 90-day prescription programs, where
patients receive a three-month supply of their chronic medication
prescription during one pharmacy visit, were used in conjunction
with a narrow network there was an even greater improvement in
members' adherence.
As a pharmacy innovation company, CVS Health is focused on
improving health outcomes while lowering costs for CVS/caremark PBM
clients and their members. In recent years, narrow and preferred
pharmacy network strategies have become more prevalent as ways
to help manage rising pharmacy costs and are a widely used
feature of government-sponsored, Exchange and commercial health
plans. However, their impact on patient health outcomes and quality
of care had not previously been established. Concerns have also
been raised that these networks may adversely affect medication
adherence by reducing members' geographic access to pharmacy care
and choice. Many government-sponsored plans address this concern by
requiring plan sponsors to have in-network retail pharmacies within
close proximity of members' residences. In addition, independent
research shows that the majority of Medicare beneficiaries are
satisfied with their preferred pharmacy network plan reporting that
the in-network pharmacies are conveniently located.
"Despite common concerns that narrow pharmacy networks reduce
access, we believe they can actually help encourage plan members to
establish a pharmacy home where patients with chronic diseases can
receive coordinated care and effective medication adherence
support," added Dr. Shrank. "This research suggests that narrow
networks are one more way we can help encourage medication
adherence and have an even greater impact as we help people on
their path to better health."
Research shows that half of people who have long-term
prescriptions for chronic conditions do not take their medicines as
prescribed, costing the U.S. nearly $300
billion and tens of thousands of lives each year. In
addition to PBM plan designs that promote adherence and
cost-savings, CVS Health is building a range of programs across the
enterprise to meet the various challenges individual patients face
when taking their medications. These include programs that
synchronize prescription pick-up for patients with multiple
medications, comprehensive medication reviews to help identify
potential safety issues and adherence-improving interventions that
can be delivered at the retail pharmacy, via digital tools and at
the patient's home.
The CVS Health Research Institute is focused on contributing to
the body of scientific knowledge related to pharmacy and health
care through research collaborations with external academic
institutions, participation in federally-funded research, analysis
and sharing of CVS Health data sources and coordination of pilot
programs and initiatives. CVS Health Research Institute findings
support a continuous quality improvement environment, which
encourages product innovation and development to benefit CVS Health
patients, clients and their members.
For more detail on the data, please visit the following link:
http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?doi=10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.4582
About CVS Health
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a pharmacy innovation company helping
people on their path to better health. Through its 7,800
retail drugstores, nearly 1,000 walk-in medical clinics, a leading
pharmacy benefits manager with more than 70 million plan members,
and expanding specialty pharmacy services, the Company enables
people, businesses and communities to manage health in more
affordable, effective ways. This unique integrated model increases
access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers
overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS
Health is shaping the future of health at www.cvshealth.com.
Media
Contacts:
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Christine
Cramer
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Christina
Beckerman
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CVS Health
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CVS Health
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(401)
770-3317
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(401)
770-8868
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christine.cramer@cvscaremark.com
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christina.beckerman@cvscaremark.com
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SOURCE CVS Health