A Health Plan's Formulary Led To Reduced Use Of Extended-Release Opioids But Did Not Lower Overall Opioid Use.

Many insurers are using formulary design to influence opioid prescribing, but it is unclear if these changes lead to reduced use or just substitution between opioids. We evaluated the effect of a new prior authorization process implemented in July 2015 for extended-release (ER) oxycodone by Blue Shield of California. Compared to other commercially insured Californians, among 880,000 Blue Shield enrollees, there was a 36 percent drop in monthly rates of ER opioid initiation relative to control-group members, driven entirely by decreases in ER oxycodone initiation and without any substitution toward other ER opioids.

Opioid prescribing for chronic pain in a community-based healthcare system.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate opioid prescribing in an ambulatory setting among patients with noncancer chronic pain (CP).

Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Methods: We identified patients with at least 2 CP encounters at least 30 days apart in 2012 in the electronic health records of a community-based healthcare delivery system in northern California.

Patient characteristics and healthcare utilization of a chronic pain population within an integrated healthcare system.

Objectives: We sought to characterize the chronic pain (CP) population and healthcare utilization across types of CP within a community-based healthcare system.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study of electronic health records data from 2012.

Methods: Patients 18 years or older with at least 2 encounter diagnoses for CP conditions in 2012 were included in the study.

Pharmacist-led medication management program within a patient-centered medical home.

Purpose: The impact of a clinical pharmacist-led medication management program (MMP) within a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) was evaluated.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included patients in Sutter Health's electronic health records who (1) were seen by the MMP clinical pharmacist within the PCMH (MMP cohort), (2) were within the PCMH but were not referred to the MMP pharmacist (PCMH cohort), or (3) received usual care at two non-PCMH primary care clinics (usual care cohort). Patients were matched on their propensity for receiving medication management.

Multivariate analysis of factors associated with persistent colesevelam treatment among patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Persistent treatment with lipid-lowering therapies is important for achieving optimal clinical outcomes. To date, no study has evaluated the real-world use of colesevelam and the factors associated with persistent colesevelam treatment.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to examine patient demographic and characteristics associated with persistent colesevelam treatment in real-world clinical practice.