MA Pharmacy Initiative
Submission Date: December 2012
Entry Type: Case Study
State/Territory Submitted on the Behalf of: Massachusetts
States/Territories Involved: Massachusetts
Domain Addressed:Health Systems Strategies
Public Health Issue:There is a need to control health system costs while maintaining quality now that 98.5% of MA residents have insurance coverage. It’s unclear which team members are pivotal & which services result in the optimal care outcomes.
Project Objectives:To evaluate whether medication & disease management by pharmacists will improve clinical outcomes related to BP, chol, diabetes & reduce health care costs.
By evaluating & then reproducing existing successful models of collaboration, DPH will create statewide changes in systems of care for chronic disease.
Program Action:DPH will contract with UMass Center for Health Policy and Research to provide formative evaluation of four existing models of pharmacist-physician collaboration. Focus will be on MassHealth members, as they bear the disparate burden of disease
Partners include:
MA Department of Public Health
MA Pharmacy Association
MA College of Pharmacy
UMass Medical Center for Health Policy & Research
Northeastern U School of Pharmacy
Greater Lawrence FHC
Sullivan’s Pharmacy
Acton Pharmacy
S. Huntington Ambulatory Care Clinic
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Data/Other Information Collected:Reduced avoidable hospital & ED admissions
Improved clinical outcomes(A1c, BP, Chol)
Improved medication adherance
Impact/Accomplishments:Identified 4 innovative models of pharm-MD collaboration. Established relationships with each of 3 colleges of pharmacy in MA as well as the MA Pharmacy Association
Challenges/Lessons Learned:Getting access to MassHealth claims data for phase 2. Breadth of data requested, both medical and prescription claims as well as clinical data from medical record.
Next Steps:Umass will develop a scope of work for phase 1. UMASS will begin orientation site visits for each of 4 participating sites
Program Areas:Public Health Practice, Other
State Contact Information:
MA
Claire Blais
Massachusetts Department of Pubic Health
617-624-5422
claire.blais@state.ma.us