NACDS Foundation, Community Pharmacy Foundation partner on medication management research

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Community Pharmacy Foundation and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation announced on Monday that they will work together to evaluate the impact on patient outcomes of the integration of community pharmacy-provided medication management strategies into a statewide, patient-centered medical home network in North Dakota. More than 70% of physicians participate in the state’s medical home program.



The Community Pharmacy Foundation will provide $190,000 in matching funds to support ongoing research with North Dakota State University, which is partnering with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and their statewide MediQHomes network, as well as Thrifty White Pharmacies. The project will operate for two years across the state of North Dakota.

 

“Medications are the primary medical intervention for most patients. Optimizing medication use through medication management services should improve clinical outcomes while reducing medical spend,” stated Phil Burgess, president of the Community Pharmacy Foundation. “We look forward to seeing the outcomes of this important research and its impact on patient care.”

 

The implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has created a healthcare environment that promotes collaborative partnerships. According to the National Committee on Quality Assurance, there are now more than 5,000 recognized medical homes nationwide.

 

Patient-centered medical homes seek to improve patient health, and they can help curb healthcare costs. One potential key to these savings is medication adherence. Health policy research group NEHI cites that only 50% of patients take their medications properly as prescribed by their doctor, which costs the nation more than $290 billion in needless health spending each year.

 

In addition to helping improve patient health, pharmacist-provided medication management programs may reduce overall healthcare spending. Pharmacist-administered MTM programs, such as the North Carolina “ChecKmeds” program, helped 31,000 seniors optimize their drug therapy for a savings of $34 million –– a return on investment of nearly 14-to-1.

 

“We’re thrilled to join with the Community Pharmacy Foundation on this meaningful research project, which may provide a model for successful interventions around the country, and lead to better outcomes for patients,” added Kathleen Jaeger, president of the NACDS Foundation.