Evaluation of the Addition of Pharmacist Management to a Medication Assistance Program in Patients with Hypertension and Diabetes Resistant to Usual Care.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a medication assistance program and the addition of pharmacist management on clinical outcomes in patients with hypertension and diabetes through an Advanced Pharmaceutical Care program.

Methods: This was a prospective quality improvement study on patients with hypertension and/or diabetes resistant to usual care. The primary outcomes were change in A1C, blood glucose, and blood pressure between 3 phases: usual care, free medications, and free medications plus pharmacist management.

Prescribing for co-workers: practices and attitudes of faculty and residents.

Background: Physicians sometimes are asked by co-workers for prescriptions to deal with their medical problems. These "hallway" requests typically occur outside a formal doctor-patient relationship.There are professional guidelines on serving as physician for family members and friends, but no guidelines address writing prescriptions for co-workers.

Results of an intervention in an academic Internal Medicine Clinic to continue, step-down, or discontinue proton pump inhibitor therapy related to a tennessee medicaid formulary change.

Background: In July 2005, the State of Tennessee Medicaid Program (TennCare) announced formulary changes for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to be implemented in August 2005. Prior to these changes, pantoprazole was the only preferred PPI, and there were no restrictions to its use. The revised formulary included 3 preferred PPIs (esomeprazole, lansoprazole, and omeprazole OTC), all of which required prior authorization (PA).

Perceived impact of TennCare reform on patients' health in a medical teaching practice.

From 1994-2005, TennCare, Tennessee's innovative Medicaid managed care program, dramatically expanded coverage to around 1.3 million Tennesseans (roughly 23 percent of the state population) by employing cost savings achieved through capitation and managed care. Rising healthcare costs and a static state budget resulted in program downsizing that started in mid-2005.