Impact of State Telehealth Parity Laws for Private Payers on Hypertension Medication Adherence Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Telehealth has emerged as an effective tool for managing common chronic conditions such as hypertension, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the impact of state telehealth payment and coverage parity laws on hypertension medication adherence remains uncertain.

Methods: Data from the 2016 to 2021 Merative MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database were used to construct the study cohort, which included nonpregnant individuals aged 25 to 64 years with hypertension.

"The dream is that there's one place you go": a qualitative study of women's experiences seeking care from Long COVID clinics in the USA.

Background: Seeking and obtaining effective health care for Long COVID remains a challenge in the USA. Women have particularly been impacted, as they are both at higher risk of developing Long COVID and of facing gendered barriers to having symptoms acknowledged. Long COVID clinics, which provide multidisciplinary and coordinated care, have emerged as a potential solution.

Effects of Medicare Part D medication therapy management on racial/ethnic disparities in adherence to antidementia medications among patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: An observational study.

Background: Evidence is sparse on the effects of Medicare medication therapy management (MTM) on racial/ethnic disparities in medication adherence among patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Objectives: This study examined the Medicare MTM program's effects on racial/ethnic disparities in the adherence to antidementia medications among patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 100% of 2010-2017 Medicare Parts A, B, and D data linked to Area Health Resources Files.

Effects of star ratings bonus payments on disparities in medication utilization issues.

Background: Previous literature suggested that the consequences of inappropriate medication use may be borne disproportionately by racial/ethnic minorities. It is, therefore, essential to examine if quality improvement initiatives, such as Medicare Part D Star Ratings (Star Ratings), can improve these disparities.

Objective: To assess the impact of Star Ratings bonus payments to Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (MAPDs) implemented in 2012 on racial/ethnic disparities in medication utilization issues (MUIs).

Racial and ethnic disparities in the enrolment of medicare medication therapy management programs.

Objectives: Racial/ethnic disparities have been found in prior literature examining enrolment in Medicare medication therapy management programs. However, those studies were based on various eligibility scenarios because enrolment data were unavailable. This study tested for potential disparities in enrolment using actual MTM enrolment data.

Solving racial/ethnic disparities associated with Medicare Part D Star Ratings.

Objective: Medicare Part D Star Ratings are instrumental in shaping healthcare quality improvement efforts. However, the calculation metrics for medication performance measures for this program have been associated with racial/ethnic disparities. In this study, we aimed to explore whether an alternative program, named Star Plus by us that included all medication performance measures developed by Pharmacy Quality Alliance and applicable to our study population, would reduce such disparities among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes, hypertension, and/or hyperlipidemia.

Racial and ethnic disparities in Medicare Part D medication therapy management services utilization.

Background: The Medicare Part D medication therapy management (MTM) program has positive effects on medication and health service utilization. However, little is known about its utilization, much less so about the use among racial and ethnic minorities.

Objective: To examine MTM service utilization among older Medicare beneficiaries and to identify any racial and ethnic disparity patterns.

Cost-Effectiveness of Medication Therapy Management Program Across Racial and Ethnic Groups Among Medicare Beneficiaries.

Objectives: Equity and effectiveness of the medication therapy management (MTM) program in Medicare has been a policy focus since its inception. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the Medicare MTM program in improving medication utilization quality across racial and ethnic groups.

Methods: This study analyzed 2017 Medicare data linked to the Area Health Recourses File.

Racial/ethnic disparities in the enrollment of Medication Therapy Management programs among Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Objective: Previous analysis of policy scenarios reported potential disparities in eligibility in the Medicare Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program. With recently released MTM data, this study aimed to determine if racial/ethnic disparities exist in MTM enrollment among Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).

Methods: Medicare claims/records (from 2013-2014 and 2016-2017) linked to the Area Health Resources File were examined.

Exploring Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Medication Adherence Among Medicare Comprehensive Medication Review Recipients.

Background: There has been a lack of evidence on whether there are racial and ethnic disparities in medication nonadherence among individuals receiving comprehensive medication review (CMR), a required component of the Medicare Part D medication therapy management (MTM) services.

Objectives: To explore racial/ethnic disparities in medication nonadherence among older MTM enrollees who received a CMR and to determine how much the identified disparities can be explained by observed characteristics.

Methods: The retrospective study used 100% of the 2017 Medicare claims, including MTM data.

Effects of the Medicare Part D Comprehensive Medication Review on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Medication Adherence.

Background: Substantial research has documented inequalities between US minorities and whites in meeting the eligibility criteria for the Medicare Part D medication therapy management (MTM) program. Even though the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services attempted to relax the eligibility criteria, a critical barrier to effective MTM reform is a lack of stronger evidence about the effects of MTM on minorities' health outcomes.

Objective: To examine the effects of comprehensive medication review (CMR), an MTM core component, on racial and ethnic disparities in adherence to diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia medications among Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years.

Effects of Medicare comprehensive medication review on racial/ethnic disparities in nonadherence to statin medications among patients with Alzheimer's Disease: an observational analysis.

Background: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the mostcommon cause of dementia, a neurological disorder characterized by memory loss and judgment impairment. Hyperlipidemia, a commonly co-occurring condition, should be treated to prevent associated complications. Medication adherence may be difficult for individuals with AD due to the complexity of AD management.

Racial and ethnic disparities associated with the measure for drug-drug interactions among Medicare beneficiaries.

Background: Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) cause many preventable hospitalizations and admissions. Efforts have been made to raise DDI awareness and reduce DDI occurrence; for example, Medicare Part D Star Ratings, a health plan quality assessment program, included a DDI measure. Previous research reported racial and ethnic disparities in health services utilization and that racial and ethnic minorities, compared with non-Hispanic whites (whites), may be less likely to be targeted for a similar measure, a Star Ratings adherence measure for diabetes medications.

Effects of the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act on health insurance coverage, health care access, and use for people with disabilities.

Background: People with disabilities have higher health care needs, service utilization, and expenditures. They are also more likely to lack insurance and experience unmet need for medical care. There has been limited research on the effects of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion on people with disabilities.

A comparison between the effects of drug costs and share of family income on drug costs in determining drug price.

High health care and medication expenditures pose a financial burden on Americans seeking care. It is imperative to determine the role of affordability in influencing access to health care and medications.To investigate the association between financial burden and health care access by comparing the effects of absolute and relative financial burdens, measured by total health care/medication expenditure (Expenditure) and health care/medication expenditure as a share of annual family income (Expenditure Share), respectively.

Effects of the Medicare Part D comprehensive medication review on medication adherence among patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: Older patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are challenged with adhering to complex medication regimens. We examined effects of Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR), a required Medicare Part D Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program component, on medication adherence among AD patients.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 100% of 2016-2017 Medicare claims covering the entire United States, linked to Area Health Resources Files.