New study: Prime Therapeutics' Medication Therapy Management program increases number of adherent Medicare members

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Prime Therapeutics' LLC (Prime) researchers found up to a 40 percent higher proportion of adherent Medicare members among those participating in a Comprehensive Medication Review through the Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program. As a requirement of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors must have MTM programs to help ensure the best outcomes while reducing the risk of adverse events. Within the Star Ratings measures – which evaluate overall quality and performance of a Medicare Part D PDP – adherence accounts for 28 percent of the composite score.

This research will be presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Nexus event in Orlando, Oct. 26-29 and AMCP selected the study as one of the bronze medal winners for the conference.

"People not taking their medicine as directed is a major cause of hospitalization, poor health care outcomes and increased overall health care costs," said Cathy Starner, PharmD, principal health outcomes researcher at Prime. "Finding that Prime's MTM program yields positive results for our members provides evidence our approach works. We encourage our health plans' members to participate in MTM and it helps the plans achieve the best Star Rating possible. It is a win-win scenario."

The study analyzed 106,915 of Prime's Medicare members, of which 7,306 (6.8 percent) chose to complete a comprehensive medical review (CMR).

The three CMS Star Rating drug adherence categories — statins, diabetes and renin angiotensin system (RAS) antagonists — were compared for members completing a CMR as part of the MTM program to those that did not complete a CMR.

A completed CMR as part of MTM services for Medicare members was associated with statistically significantly higher proportion of adherent members across three drug categories:

• 40 percent higher in the diabetes category
• 20 percent in both statin and RAS categories

To view the research poster that will be presented at the AMCP event, visit primetherapeutics.com.

About Prime Therapeutics
Prime Therapeutics LLC (Prime) helps people get the medicine they need to feel better and live well. Prime manages pharmacy benefits for health plans, employers, and government programs including Medicare and Medicaid. The company processes claims and delivers medicine to members, offering clinical services for people with complex medical conditions. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., Prime serves more than 26 million people. It is collectively owned by 13 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, subsidiaries or affiliates of those plans. Prime has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation.

For more information, visit www.primetherapeutics.com or follow @Prime_PBM on Twitter.

SOURCE Prime Therapeutics LLC

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http://www.primetherapeutics.com