Loyalty Marketing    
MonthlyTM
Pharmacist counseling a patient
compliments of pskw
MARCH 2013

Welcome to the March issue of Loyalty Marketing Monthly. This month's lead article is an important review of the costs of poor medication adherence and the interventions that have been shown to improve adherence. If you have time to read just one adherence article this month, this is the one. 

Our second item this month is a special report from Patient Preference and Adherence detailing the crucial need to increase medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes.  

Finally, we note a recent article reporting on the planning, implementation, and overall effectiveness of Web 2.0 self-management interventions for older adults.

We trust that you will enjoy and gain from this issue of Loyalty Marketing Monthly!

Medication Adherence Issues In Patients: Focus on Cost
by Doreen Matsui

This March 2013 article in Clinical Audit provides a detailed and thorough summary of the most important cost implications of less than optimal medication adherence. 

Matsui reports on numerous examples of published research in which poor medication adherence led to adverse health outcomes. She also describes in detail the increased health care costs that result from poor adherence. While noting certain exceptions, Matsui concludes that "improved adherence is often associated with lower total health care costs..." 

The author takes special care in discussing the well-documented association between high patient out-of-pocket costs and poor adherence. She concludes with a useful explanation of the positive results seen with co-pay reduction programs and other financial incentives. With more than 100 citations, this publication has a rightful place in the library of anyone with an interest in adherence.

See the complete article here:
Medication Adherence Issues In Patients: Focus on Cost     

Non-adherence in Type 2 Diabetes: Practical Considerations for Interpreting the Literature
by David Blackburn, Jaris Swidrovich, and Mark Lemstra

This March 2013 publication from Patient Preference and Adherence details the specific adherence challenges in patients with type 2 diabetes. The authors present a broad view of the patterns and predictors of non-adherence in these patients, and emphasize the point that no single intervention can eliminate non-adherence in this group. 

Interestingly, the authors provide details of just one intervention that resulted in substantive increases in adherence and clinical success rates: patient cost reductions. 

See the complete article here:
Non-adherence in Type 2 Diabetes   


Web 2.0 Chronic Disease Self-Management for Older Adults: A Systematic Review
by Michael Stellefson, et al

Published in February 2013 in Journal of Medical Internet ResearchStellefson and colleagues reviewed the planning, implementation, and overall effectiveness of Web 2.0 self-management interventions for older adults with one or more chronic diseases.

The authors identified 15 high-quality published studies, which were examined in depth. The findings were mixed; while Web 2.0 participants felt greater self-efficacy for managing their diseases and benefitted from communicating with health care providers and/or website moderators, few studies indicated statistically significant improvements in medication adherence, biological outcomes, or health care utilization.

See the complete article here:
Web 2.0 Chronic Desease Self-Management for Older Adults   


Forward this issue of Loyalty Marketing Monthly to a colleague
"Ask the Expert" by Ticia Cawley, PSKW VP of Specialty Programs

Q: Can co-pay programs be used for drugs that require the physician to purchase the product and bill the patient’s insurance plan (buy and bill)? 

A: Yes, PSKW's specialty product team designs co-pay programs that can be easily implemented for drugs covered under medical benefits, including those drugs that require the physician to buy and bill for the product. Claims are generally submitted to the program with a copy of the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) that lists the amount owed by the patient after the primary insurance plan has paid. Payment is then provided via a signature-based debit card or a check. The process time frame depends on the time required for the primary payer to review and approve the claim. PSKW will process co-pay claims within two to five business days.  Funds loaded on a debit card are available immediately.

Upcoming Loyalty/Adherence Conferences
 
CBI's 12th Annual Patient Adherence and Support Summit 
April 29-30, 2013
Philadelphia, PA
Patient Adherence & Support 

EyeForPharma's
10th Patient Summit USA         
May 2-3, 2013
Philadelphia, PA
Patient Summit USA
To receive a $300 registration discount, use code "PSKW300"

What PSKW Does
 
Co-pay Assistance Initiatives
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   - ePrescription Co-pay Offers
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   - and more!

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