New Initiatives Will Help Beneficiaries With HIV Adhere to Drug Regimen.MemberHealth's CCRx Medicare Part D Plan Focused on Improving Patient Safety, Health CLEVELAND -- MemberHealth's CCRx Medicare Part D Prescription Drug prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, Plan is collaborating with beneficiaries who have HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. and their doctors to ensure the beneficiaries take their antiretroviral medicines correctly - every day. Antiretroviral drugs Antiretroviral Drugs Definition Antiretroviral drugs inhibit the reproduction of retroviruses—viruses composed of RNA rather than DNA. The best known of this group is HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, the causative agent of AIDS. inhibit the replication of HIV and help keep people with HIV healthy. For antiretroviral medicines to be effective against HIV, they must be taken correctly at least 95 percent of the time. Yet, people with HIV stray from their antiretroviral drug therapy for many reasons, including cost, the complicated nature of dosing regimens, side effects Side effects Effects of a proposed project on other parts of the firm. of the medicines, and lack of awareness about the medicines' effectiveness, said Sam Rajan, a registered pharmacist and vice president of Clinical Operations at MemberHealth. MemberHealth is a prescription benefits manager and sponsor of CCRx, one of the nation's largest Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. "For HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome care to be effective, antiretroviral medicines must be taken consistently. Even the slightest change in the way these medicines are taken can prevent people with HIV from staying physically and mentally healthy," Rajan said. "We want to encourage physicians, pharmacists and beneficiaries to discuss why beneficiaries may not be taking their antiretroviral drugs correctly and to remove barriers to doing so. We believe these open conversations will help improve healthcare for our beneficiaries." To help beneficiaries adhere to their HIV antiretroviral regimen, CCRx is taking a three-pronged approach. * First, CCRx sends letters to beneficiaries and their doctors about medicines available on the CCRx formulary formulary /for·mu·lary/ (for´mu-lar?e) a collection of recipes, formulas, and prescriptions. National Formulary see under N. for·mu·lar·y n. that may be interchangeable -they work the same but cost the beneficiary less money. * Second, CCRx pays pharmacists to conduct face-to-face Welcome to CCRx Medication Reviews with beneficiaries who are new to the plan. During these sessions, pharmacists help beneficiaries lower their prescription drug costs either through substituting suitable alternative medications or by discontinuing unnecessary medication. By helping patients save on their prescriptions, CCRx hopes they will be better able to always take their medication as prescribed. * Third, CCRx analyzes claims information to detect gaps in prescription refills to determine how well beneficiaries adhere to HIV therapy. CCRx uses this information to alert physicians through a letter to potential non-adherence. CCRx hopes that this information will spur patient-physician dialogue to determine why beneficiaries are not adhering to their drug regimens. Dr. Ira Leviton, director of the Inpatient Infectious Diseases Consultation Service at Montefiore Hospital in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , said CCRx's adherence program gives doctors an extra tool to use when treating patients. "The letters CCRx is sending to physicians are a simple means of giving quantifiable information to doctors about their patients' compliance," Dr. Leviton said. "Now doctors can know how often their patients are compliant. When taking care of patients, we all rely on impressions and observations because real-life data are hard to get. But this information is data, and it's simple and useful." CCRx will roll out similar adherence initiatives in 2007 for beneficiaries who take antipsychotics Antipsychotics A class of drugs used to control psychotic symptoms in patients with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and delusional disorder. Antipsychotics include risperidone (Risperdal), haloperidol (Haldol), and chlorpromazine (Thorazine). , bisphosphonates, antidepressants Antidepressants Medications prescribed to relieve major depression. Classes of antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine/Prozac, sertraline/Zoloft), tricyclics (amitriptyline/ Elavil), MAOIs (phenelzine/Nardil), and heterocyclics , antihypertensives, antihyperglycemics, antiepileptics, and asthma medicines. About MemberHealth: MemberHealth, Inc. (MHRx) is a leading prescription benefits manager and national Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan sponsor, offering Medicare prescription drug plans in 50 states, District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). , Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. MHRx has more than 61,000 pharmacies in its pharmacy network and covers 98 percent of the top 100 medications taken by Medicare beneficiaries. MHRx established its reputation as a visionary provider of prescription drug benefits for insured and self-insured groups and discount prescription programs across the country, by focusing on strengthening the relationships between patients, their pharmacists and physicians, which ensures that patients can take medicines with confidence and save money. In 2006, MHRx was ranked #10 on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing, privately held companies privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. in the country. MHRx received the Weatherhead 100 Centurion Award in 2006, honoring the fastest-growing Northeast Ohio companies with net sales Net Sales The amount a seller receives from the buyer after costs associated with the sale are deducted. Notes: This amount is calculated by subtracting the following items from gross sales: merchandise returned for credit, allowances for damaged or missing goods, freight of more than $100 million in 2005. For more information, visit www.mhrx.com or www.communitycarerx.com. |
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