Understanding Typology of Preexposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Persistence Trajectories Among Male PrEP Users in the United States.

Introduction: Understanding longitudinal patterns of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among men who have sex with men could offer insights for developing efficient and timely interventions to promote PrEP persistence.

Setting: We extracted 2 years of pharmacy fill records for 4000 males who initiated PrEP in 2017 at a national chain pharmacy in the United States.

Methods: Group-based trajectory models were used to develop PrEP trajectory clusters, with periods of use defined based on optimal PrEP seroprotection probabilities (ie, PrEP use frequency ≥4 doses/week).

Evaluation of Medication Therapy Issues, Resolutions, and Adherence Among Persons With HIV in the Pharmacist-Led Patient-Centered HIV Care Model.

Objective: To identify medication therapy issues and resolutions and assess their relationship to antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among participants of the Patient-Centered HIV Care Model demonstration project.

Methods: Adult persons with HIV (PWH) in the United States were enrolled in the Patient-Centered HIV Care Model from August 2014 to September 2016. Pharmacists conducted regular medication therapy reviews and documented ART and non-ART issues and suggested resolutions.

Estimated Cost and Savings in a Patient Management Program for Oral Oncology Medications: Impact of a Split-Fill Component.

Purpose: A national specialty pharmacy implemented a split-fill option within an oral oncology patient management program to reduce pharmacy costs and medication wastage resulting from early discontinuations. Payers covered dispensed medications at half-quantity intervals for each dispense up to 3 months. Proactive outreach to patients before they had used up the initial dispensed medication quantity helped assess the patient's tolerance to the new medication and adverse effects.

Outcome Evaluation of a Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Clinical Management Program.

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare clinical and cost outcomes of patients undergoing subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) therapy who were managed by a clinical management program to the matched controls in the United States.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using administrative claims data from the PharMetrics Plus™ (PMTX+) database. The patients from a high-touch SCIG clinical management program were matched to nonprogram patients in PMTX+ database using 1:4 propensity score matching without replacement.

Persistence on HIV preexposure prophylaxis medication over a 2-year period among a national sample of 7148 PrEP users, United States, 2015 to 2017.

Introduction: Persistence on preexposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention (PrEP) medication has rarely been reported for periods greater than one year, or in real-world settings. This study used pharmacy fill records for PrEP users from a national chain pharmacy to describe persistence on PrEP medication over a two-year period, and to explore correlates with PrEP medication persistence in a real-world setting.

Methods: We analysed de-identified pharmacy fill records of 7148 eligible individuals who initiated PrEP in 2015 at a national chain pharmacy.

A descriptive study of patients receiving foundational financial assistance through local specialty pharmacies.

Objectives: To describe the population of patients who received financial assistance from the Good Days Foundation (GDF) as facilitated by Walgreens local specialty pharmacies (LSPs).

Study Design: This was a retrospective descriptive study.

Methods: This study used a joint foundational and pharmacy claim database between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016.

Outcome evaluation of a pharmacy-based therapy management program for patients with cystic fibrosis.

Objective: To compare medication adherence, pulmonary exacerbations, healthcare utilization, and costs for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) who utilized a pharmacy-based therapy management program to a matched control group. We hypothesized that patient management services would be associated with better medication adherence, and thus require fewer visits to the emergency room or hospitalizations.

Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort study used claims data from the MORE claims Registry®.

Clinical and economic outcomes of a "high-touch" clinical management program for intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.

Objective: To compare clinical and economic outcomes of patients who received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapies and were managed by a clinical management program vs the outcomes of matched controls using administrative claim data.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the PharMetrics Plus™ claim database between September 1, 2011 and June 30, 2014. Patients in the intervention group were from a "high-touch" IVIG clinical management program administered by a home infusion specialty pharmacy.

Local specialty pharmacy and specialty clinic collaboration assists access to hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals.

Objectives: To measure prescribed time to therapy (TtT) and sustained virologic response (SVR). Secondary objectives were to assess insurance appeals and copay assistance amount facilitated by a local specialty pharmacy (LSP).

Methods: This descriptive, retrospective study used a joint clinical and pharmacy database of patients who were prescribed direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) at a single-center liver specialty clinic and received LSP services from December 2013 to December 2015.

New all oral therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV): a novel long-term cost comparison.

Background: In the US, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has surpassed the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with about 3.3 million people chronically infected with the disease. Given the aging of the Baby Boomer generation and the subsequent implementation of age-based screening recommendations, HCV diagnoses are expected to increase.

Which modifiable health risks are associated with changes in productivity costs?

The purpose of this retrospective, longitudinal study was to assess longitudinal associations between modifiable health risks and workplace absenteeism and presenteeism and to estimate lost productivity costs. Across the 4-year study period (2007-2010), 17,089 unique employees from a large US computer manufacturer with a highly technical workforce completed at least 1 health risk assessment. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate the mean population-level absenteeism and presenteeism for 11 modifiable health risks and adjust for 9 sociodemographic and employment-related factors.

The effect of a collaborative pharmacist-hospital care transition program on the likelihood of 30-day readmission.

Purpose: The effect of a collaborative pharmacist-hospital care transition program on the likelihood of 30-day readmission was evaluated.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in two acute care hospitals within the same hospital system in the southeastern United States. One hospital initiated a care transition program in January 2011; the other hospital did not have such a program.

Planning influenza vaccination programs: a cost benefit model.

Background: Although annual influenza vaccination could decrease the significant economic and humanistic burden of influenza in the United States, immunization rates are below recommended levels, and concerns remain whether immunization programs can be cost beneficial. The research objective was to compare cost benefit of various immunization strategies from employer, employee, and societal perspectives.

Methods: An actuarial model was developed based on the published literature to estimate the costs and benefits of influenza immunization programs.