Journal of managed care & specialty pharmacy最新文献

Background: Rates of attainment of high-quality diabetes care have been shown to be lower for those living in more disadvantaged and rural areas. Diabetes management relies on access to care and is impacted by physical, social, and economic factors. Area deprivation index (ADI) is one way to quantify geographic disparities in aggregate. We aimed to investigate how ADI impacts outcomes in members with type 2 diabetes enrolled in a large, regional health plan.

Objective: To evalute clinical and economic objectives. Clinical objectives included the percentage of members who achieved hemoglobin A1c (A1c) goal level of 7% or less, the percentage of members who received comorbidity-focused therapies, noninsulin diabetes medication adherence, and the frequency and type of health care services used. Economic outcomes included per member per month differences in total cost of care, pharmacy cost, medical cost, and diabetes-associated cost.

Methods: This retrospective review of pharmacy and medical claims included 8,814 adult members with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes enrolled in an integrated health plan during calendar year 2021. To be included, members were required to be at least 18 years of age, reside in Pennsylvania, and have continuous enrollment for 2 years prior to type 2 diabetes diagnosis. State-level ADI data were derived for each member and applied to the Census block group on file in the administrative claims data. The study population deciles were grouped into ADI quintiles for analysis. Multivariable regression models and descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the association between ADI and outcomes while controlling for confounding variables.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences between any ADI quintile for achievement of A1c goal or receipt of comorbidity-focused therapy. Significant differences were identified between ADI quintiles 1 (least deprived) and 5 (most deprived) for obtainment of at least 1 A1c test during calendar year 2021 (72% vs 56%, P < 0.01) and adherence to noninsulin diabetes medications (70% vs 62%, P < 0.01). Significant differences were also identified for all-cause inpatient, outpatient, and unplanned health care service utilization. The difference in per member per month all-cause total cost of care was on average $363.50 less for those living in ADI quintile 1 vs those in quintile 5 (P < 0.01).

Conclusions: Significant differences were identified between ADI quintiles 1 and 5 for noninsulin diabetes medication adherence, frequency of A1c test claims, all-cause health care service utilization, and total cost of care. There were no statistically significant differences between ADI quintiles for achievement of A1c goal or receipt of comorbidity-focused therapies.

Background: A comprehensive medication review (CMR) is an annual service offered to eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries as a component of the Medication Therapy Management program. However, little is known about the most meaningful aspect of CMRs from the patient's perspective. This information is necessary to help improve the service.

Objective: To conduct concept elicitation interviews with patients who recently received a CMR to guide quality improvement efforts.

Methods: Those who recently received a telephonic CMR were invited to participate in semistructured interviews to provide their insights on the CMR service. An interview guide was used and contained the following 6 key questions (with additional probing questions) exploring: (1) overall experience, (2) medication knowledge, (3) concerns, (4) management, (5) satisfaction, and (6) experience. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed thematically.

Results: Interviews were conducted with 42 patients and resulted in the identification of themes related to the CMR service that were most meaningful to patients. The resulting framework contained 3 themes related to the content of the CMR (eg, medication review), the characteristics of the pharmacy professional (eg, professionalism), and the interaction during the CMR (eg, the telephonic experience). Intrinsic patient factors (eg, prior experiences) were also identified as important to contextualize patients' experiences.

Conclusions: The framework provides concrete examples of the need for continued quality improvement of the CMR service and can be illustrated using the structure-process-outcome model. Patient perspectives should be accounted for in future quality improvement activities.

Background: Available treatments for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) include multiclass triplet regimens such as lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd backbone) plus ixazomib (proteasome inhibitor [PI]; I) or daratumumab (monoclonal antibody; D). Although prior real-world studies compared PI-Rd triplets, this research extends those findings by comparing health care costs of a PI-based and a monoclonal antibody-based triplet, IRd and DRd, in patients with RRMM in the United States.

Objective: To describe and compare all-cause and MM-related health care costs in patients with RRMM treated with IRd vs DRd.

Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study used fully adjudicated US claims data from IQVIA PharMetrics Plus (January 1, 2015, to September 30, 2020) and included adult patients who initiated IRd or DRd as second line of therapy (LOT) or later. Index date was the treatment initiation date for each LOT; baseline was 6 months pre-index. MM-related and all-cause costs per patient per month were assessed during follow-up (2020 US dollars). For MM-related costs, treatment administration costs were excluded from outpatient (OP) costs and instead summed with pharmacy costs. Costs were compared using 2-part models and generalized linear models. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to adjust for imbalances in baseline confounders across treatment groups.

Results: A total of 265 patients who initiated IRd or DRd were included in this analysis, contributing to 276 distinct LOTs (IRd: n = 153; DRd: n = 123). Baseline characteristics were similar between IRd and DRd cohorts after applying inverse probability of treatment weighting. Weighted (ie, adjusted) mean monthly MM-related total costs were significantly lower for the IRd cohort compared with the DRd cohort (-$8,141; P < 0.001). Total MM-related medical (-$4,764; P < 0.001), OP (-$3,152; P < 0.001), and pharmacy and OP treatment administration costs (-$3,563; P = 0.017) were also significantly lower for the IRd cohort.

Conclusions: When comparing patients with MM in the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus commercial insurance database, which reflects the payer perspective, significant cost savings were observed for patients treated with IRd vs DRd owing to lower OP and pharmacy costs. These findings may help inform real-world treatment and reimbursement decisions for patients with RRMM.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) results in 37,000 new cancers each year. HPV-attributable cancers are preventable through vaccination with the completion of the HPV series encouraged by age 13 years. Public uptake has been lower than expected. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) implemented clinical programs to address low vaccination rates.

Objective: To compare the proportion of adolescent members who completed the HPV vaccine series before vs after implementation of clinical programs.

Methods: Retrospective, observational study of BCBSM commercial medical claims for members aged 9 to younger than 14 years. Data were divided accordingly: (A) pre-intervention (2019), (B) academic detailing (2022), and (C) academic detailing and provider incentive (2023). Years 2020 and 2021 were excluded to avoid impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary outcome compared the proportion of members who completed the HPV vaccine series for Cohorts B and C compared with Cohort A. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of members who completed the first dose, the time between the dose due date and when the dose was received, average age at series completion, and dose 1 and 2 completion by month. Data were assessed using chi-square and independent t-tests.

Results: Member baseline characteristics were similar, with the majority aged 11 to younger than 13 years, male, White, and having an urban residence. For Cohorts A, B, and C, the proportion of HPV series completers were 15.3%, 15.2%, and 15.2%, respectively. The proportion of those who received only 1 dose was 15.8%, 15.6%, 15.5%, respectively. Cohorts B and C completed the series later compared with Cohort A, with the remaining time until due date as follows: 38 days (Cohort A), 8 days (Cohort B), and 4 days (Cohort C). Compared with Cohort A, Cohorts B and C had more members who received doses 1 and 2 more than 1 year apart: 8.1% (Cohort B) and 8.4% (Cohort C) compared with 6.3% (Cohort A). The average age of series completion was 12 years. August was the most popular month to receive doses 1 and 2 across all cohorts.

Conclusions: The difference observed between cohorts for the proportion of members who completed the series was not statistically significant. Cohorts B and C completed the series later compared with Cohort A, and a higher proportion received doses 1 and 2 more than 1 year apart. Although the years 2020 and 2021 were not included, lasting impact from the pandemic may have influenced study results; however, BCBSM's efforts may have mitigated the impact of the national decrease seen in HPV vaccination among in-state members.

Background: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the Maximum Fair Price for the first 10 Medicare Part D drugs selected for price negotiation. By February 2025, CMS should announce the list of Part D drugs to be negotiated with implementation of the negotiated prices in 2027.

Objective: To identify up to 15 Medicare Part D single-source drugs anticipated to be selected by CMS for price negotiation in 2025.

Methods: We followed selection criteria identified in the Inflation Reduction Act and CMS guidance to identify drugs. We projected 2023 Part D gross spending using 2020-2022 data reported by CMS and linear prediction models. We ranked products according to the projected spending figure and identified those not eligible for selection because of (1) number of years since approval, (2) availability of a biosimilar or generic version, (3) approval for a single orphan indication, (4) whole human blood or plasma-derived, or (5) eligibility for the small biotech exception.

Results: We identified 13 products likely subject to Medicare drug price negotiation, including 4 anticancer therapies, 3 noninsulin antidiabetic products, 2 inhalers, 1 antifibrotic therapy, 1 gastrointestinal agent, 1 enzyme replacement therapy, and 1 product indicated for dyskinesia. These 13 products each had projected annual gross Part D spending more than $1 billion. We identified 7 additional products with uncertainty to complete the list of 15, including an insulin, an antiviral, an antibiotic, an immunologic agent, an antidiabetic, and 2 cancer drugs. These products had projected gross Part D spending between $877 million and $1.399 billion. Twenty-two products with comparable levels of spending were deemed ineligible for selection because of availability of a generic or biosimilar version (10 products), insufficient years since approval (8 products), eligibility for the small biotech exception (3 products), and expected market discontinuation (1 product).

Conclusions: Our identification of products anticipated to be selected for negotiation in 2025 (with implementation of negotiated prices in 2027) will help inform manufacturers, payers, patients, and policymakers of the products that will likely see a decrease in Medicare drug prices as result of negotiation. We identified 22 products with levels of spending that are comparable with those anticipated to be selected for negotiation but are not eligible, primarily because of generic or biosimilar availability or insufficient time on market.

There has been growing consensus for the health care community to become more patient centered by considering patient needs, preferences, and values in decision-making. To advance partnership between payers and patient representatives to gather patient input and incorporate their perspective on the broad range of managed care pharmacy decisions, the AMCP held a multistakeholder Partnership Forum on December 6 and 7, 2023, in Alexandria, Virginia. Forum participants were asked to (1) identify opportunities for patient representatives to engage with payers and other managed care pharmacy decision-makers, (2) recognize challenges and propose potential solutions to establish patient engagement programs between payers and patient representatives, and (3) review and provide input on draft frameworks created by the 2023-24 AMCP Patient Voice Advisory Group. Key themes that emerged from the participant discussion included to assemble and draw upon successful examples and best practices, recognize different levels of engagement, build trust and relationships proactively, create defined access points and open dialogue channels, incorporate the patient perspective as an element of coverage decision-making, leverage existing patient data and reports, crystallize a key message furthering common goals, and facilitate ongoing education and learning.

Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an acquired degeneration of the retina that can lead to central vision impairment. It is primarily treated with intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors. Although vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors can effectively prevent progression of vision loss in many patients, they require ongoing regular administration and are therefore associated with considerable treatment burden. To gain insights into the impact of wet AMD and its treatment, AMCP convened an expert panel of managed care stakeholders in April 2024 through its Market Insights program. Key issues related to wet AMD identified by participants included cost and affordability, provider-related considerations, biosimilar adoption, measuring and improving quality, and incorporating the patient voice. Suggested payer best practices related to these issues in wet AMD also emerged from the discussion.