Can a pharmacist reduce annual costs for Medicare Part D enrollees?

OBJECTIVE

To determine the ability of a community pharmacist to reduce the annual drug expenditures for Medicare Part D enrollees.

SETTING

Independent community pharmacy.

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION

Located in rural North Carolina, one pharmacist and two technicians, 900 prescriptions per week, open 56 hours per week; and median income of $14,500 in 2009.

PRACTICE INNOVATION

Drug regimen reviews for 50 Medicare Part D enrollees were performed using the Medicare.gov Web site to determine the potential annual savings available to patients by selecting the lowest-cost prescription drug plan and requesting therapeutic alternatives to expensive medications. The impact of this intervention on the patient's entry into the coverage gap was also explored.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Annual prescription drug plan cost (in dollars/year), number of patients in coverage gap, number of months to reach coverage gap (MTG) in the Medicare Part D drug program.

RESULTS

48/50 patients had not selected the lowest-cost prescription plan and had a potential to save $456 per year, 27/50 patients had an opportunity for therapeutic substitution with a potential savings of $1,303 per year, 25 enrollees would reach the coverage gap without an intervention, 16 could be kept out of the gap with an average improvement of 3.02 months' coverage.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacists can use the Medicare.gov Web site to assist Medicare Part D plan enrollees in reducing their out-of-pocket annual expenditures.