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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Julianna F Parrish, PharmD1, Mary Elizabeth Batten, PharmD1, Julia D Portale, MPPM, MPH2, Kenneth S Babamoto, PharmD, MPH2, Jennifer S Pitts, PhD3, Joy Southerland, BS, RPH1, and Angela J Camilleri, MPH, MA2. (1) Medication Assistance Program, Guilford County Department of Public Health, 1100 E. Wendover Ave, Ste 101, Greensboro, NC 27405, 336-641-8030, jparris@co.guilford.nc.us, (2) Community Health, Pfizer Health Solutions, 235 East 42nd Street (150/37/5), New York, NY 10017, (3) Outcomes & Analytics, Pfizer Health Solutions, 2400 Broadway, Suite 500, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Approximately 10% of residents in North Carolina have no health care coverage including government assistance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Low-income individuals not eligible for Medicaid or other programs that provide prescription benefits must often pay for medications out of pocket, typically at higher prices than those with coverage. On average, individuals without coverage pay approximately three to six times higher costs than those with benefits. This disparity often results in patients foregoing necessary medication therapy or selectively filling prescriptions based on financial need, affecting overall general health and quality of life. The Guilford County Department of Public Health Medication Assistance Program in Greensboro, North Carolina, helps low-income community residents obtain prescription medications that are not affordable. Funded in part by the Moses Cone - Wesley Long Community Health Foundation, the program is open to patients with income below 140% of the federal poverty level and who have chronic conditions that require medication therapy. Many of the participants have spent the majority of their life working only to find limited retirement income or an unstable financial situation leaving them unable to cover all of their expenses. By assisting individuals in obtaining medications at low or no cost, the program allows patients to redirect their efforts to improving daily life activities and overall quality of life. Since the summer of 2000, over 630 patients have been enrolled. The program, managed by two clinical pharmacists and a support staff, evaluates financial status and assesses need for medication therapy. Using various pharmaceutical manufacturers' assistance programs, medications are provided at low or no cost to eligible participants. The clinical staff, supported in part by an automated software application, provides disease management services including physical assessment, medication review, disease-specific patient education, routine monitoring and coordination of care with local physicians. Chronic conditions that are currently managed include diabetes, asthma, heart failure, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. The majority of patients have cardiovascular disease and diabetes. To date, 271 diabetic patients are managed. At follow-up, these participants were prescribed, on average, 10.6 medications. For patients with two or more results, average HbA1c values decreased from 8.13% to 7.8% (p<0.01), average systolic blood pressure decreased from 140.6 mm Hg to 137.6 mm Hg (p<0.05), diastolic blood pressure was reduced from 78.2 to 74.5 mm Hg (p<0.001), and SF-12 mental component score improved from 43.7 to 49.2 (p<0.001). Program implementation methods, health outcomes and lessons learned will be presented.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Disease Management, Chronic Diseases
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Guilford County Public Health Department, 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: Employment