%0 Journal Article
%T Improving the economic and humanistic outcomes for diabetic patients: making a case for employer-sponsored medication therapy management
%A Pinto SL
%A Kumar J
%A Partha G
%A Bechtol RA
%J ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research
%D 2013
%I Dove Medical Press
%X Sharrel L Pinto, Jinender Kumar, Gautam Partha, Robert A BechtolThe Pharmaceutical Care and Outcomes Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USABackground: The purpose of this study was to determine the cost savings of a pharmacist-led, employer-sponsored medication therapy management (MTM) program for diabetic patients and to assess for any changes in patient satisfaction and self-reported medication adherence for enrollees.Methods: Participants in this study were enrollees of an employer-sponsored MTM program. They were included if their primary medical insurance and prescription coverage was from the City of Toledo, they had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and whether or not they had been on medication or had been given a new prescription for diabetes treatment. The data were analyzed on a prospective, pre-post longitudinal basis, and tracked for one year following enrollment. Outcomes included economic costs, patient satisfaction, and self-reported patient adherence. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the population, calculate the number of visits, and determine the mean costs for each visit. Friedman¡¯s test was used to determine changes in outcomes due to the nonparametric nature of the data.Results: The mean number of visits to a physician¡¯s office decreased from 10.22 to 7.07. The mean cost of these visits for patients increased from $47.70 to $66.41, but use of the emergency room and inpatient visits decreased by at least 50%. Employer spending on emergency room visits decreased by $24,214.17 and inpatient visit costs decreased by $166,610.84. Office visit spending increased by $11,776.41. A total cost savings of $179,047.80 was realized by the employer at the end of the program. Significant improvements in patient satisfaction and adherence were observed.Conclusion: Pharmacist interventions provided through the employer-sponsored MTM program led to substantial cost savings to the employer with improved patient satisfaction and adherence on the part of employees at the conclusion of the program.Keywords: costs, patient satisfaction, adherence, pharmaceutical care, diabetes
%U http://www.dovepress.com/improving-the-economic-and-humanistic-outcomes-for-diabetic-patients-m-a12728