The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #45223

Stephanie N Kiser, RPH¹, Stephanie N Kiser, RPH¹, Stephanie N Kiser, RPH¹, Nikita H Patel, PharmD¹, Kathlene Ford-Walters¹, Kenneth S Babamoto, PharmD, MPH², Julia D. Portale, MPH/MBA², Jennifer S Pitts, PhD³, and Angela J Camilleri, MPH, MA². (1) Medication Assistance Program for Seniors, Mission St Joseph's Hospital, 155 Livingston Street, Asheville, NC 28801, 828-259-5327, stephanie.kiser@msj.org, (2) Community Health, Pfizer Health Solutions, 2400 Broadway, Suite 500, Santa Monica, CA 90404, (3) Outcomes & Analytics, Pfizer Health Solutions, 2400 Broadway, Suite 500, Santa Monica, CA 90404

By the year 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 years or older. Approximately 80% of today’s seniors have at least one chronic condition and 50% report two or more conditions that often require medication therapy. However, more than 25% or 10 million Medicare beneficiaries have no prescription coverage. The average Medicare beneficiary with prescription drug coverage fills approximately 24 prescriptions per year compared to only 15 prescriptions per year filled by people without any coverage. These individuals often do not receive necessary treatment, which impacts quality of life, health outcomes and use of health services. The Mission St. Joseph’s Medication Assistance Program for Seniors in Asheville, North Carolina helps community seniors, with income less than 130% of the Federal Poverty Level and no prescription medication coverage, obtain necessary medications at low or no cost through various pharmaceutical manufacturers’ assistance programs. Patients are referred to the program through hospital discharge planning, physician identification or as part of community outreach. The program coordinator assesses financial need and eligibility. Once medication therapy is initiated, patients are enrolled into a comprehensive disease management program. Two clinical pharmacists, working together with local physicians, provide wellness and prevention programs, patient education, disease monitoring, and medication review and compliance services for diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular disease. To date, over 160 patients have been enrolled into the program. Significant improvement in health outcomes and patient out-of-pocket medication cost savings has been achieved. Program methods, community impact and results will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify three common eligibility criteria for a typical pharmaceutical company medication assistance program
• List three key components of a successful disease management program for seniors
• Describe three sources for prescription medication coverage

Keywords: Disease Management, Medicare

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Mission St Joseph's Hospital, Pfizer Health Solutions
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Pfizer Health Solutions has graciously granted us use of their CMS software as part of our study.