The impact of a statewide insulin copay cap policy for insured patients with diabetes in Utah.

Background: Insulin affordability is a huge concern for patients with diabetes in the United States. On March 30, 2020, Utah signed House Bill 207 into law, aimed at capping copayments for insulin at $30 for a 30-day supply. The bill was enacted on January 1, 2021.

Understanding patient cost-sharing thresholds for diabetes treatment attributes via a discrete choice experiment.

The process used to prefer certain products across drug classes for diabetes is generally focused on comparative effectiveness and cost. However, payers rarely tie patient preference for treatment attributes to formulary management resulting in a misalignment of value defined by providers, payers, and patients. To explore patients' willingness to pay (WTP) for the predetermined high-value and low-value type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treatments within a health plan.

Impact of pharmacy services on cystic fibrosis medication adherence.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to characterize the impact of pharmacy services on medication adherence and hospitalizations for pediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.

Methods: A retrospective health insurance claims analysis and patient medical charts review from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016 of patients from the Pediatric Intermountain CF Center was performed. Adherence to dornase alfa and hospital admissions for pulmonary exacerbations pre and post the implementation of an integrated pharmacy team were reviewed.

The accuracy of activated partial thromboplastin times when drawn through a peripherally inserted central catheter.

The peripherally-inserted central catheter (PICC) is used commonly in hospitalized patients. The presence of heparin within the PICC lumen, however, may affect the results of coagulation indices when measured on blood drawn through it. In 41 patients with a PICC inserted as part of their medical care, we compared activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTTs) measured on blood drawn through the PICC to blood drawn through a peripheral venipuncture (VP).