Purpose: Study results documenting substantial cost savings achieved by an outpatient indigent-care pharmacy program through formulary modifications and optimized purchasing practices are presented.
Methods: Wholesale purchasing data were retrospectively evaluated to compare drug expenditures before and after a large Florida hospital's adoption of a tiered formulary system for three ambulatory care facilities serving mostly uninsured patients. The outcomes assessed included the average cost per prescription and total medication purchases before and after implementation of the tiered formulary, which was phased in over several months and accompanied by intensive educational programs targeting physicians and pharmacy staff. Other outcomes included cost avoidance resulting from an increased emphasis on patient assistance program (PAP) enrollment and the use of "bulk replacement" arrangements for prescription replenishment.
Results: During a designated nine-month postimplementation period, the average cost per prescription declined by 4.7% (from $19.86 to $18.92) relative to the baseline value. Six-month spending decreases of 36-58% from prior-year levels were achieved in 7 of the 10 most-purchased drug classes, with an overall 25% decline in medication purchases. Cost avoidance due to more aggressive use of PAPs and bulk replacement programs also yielded substantial program savings.
Conclusion: Formulary streamlining and other cost-control initiatives at an outpatient pharmacy program were associated with a decrease in the average cost per prescription of $0.94 over a nine-month period. The primary endpoint showed a potential annualized savings of approximately $1 million.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.2146/ajhp120447 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Urticaria in China: incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years compared with G20 countries: findings from the Global Burden of Disease study 2021.
Arch Dermatol Res
March 2025
Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510091, China.
Urticaria has become a major public health challenge in China, yet comprehensive national data assessments are lacking. This study analyzes the burden of urticaria in China compared to G20 countries from 1990 to 2021. Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, we examined the incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of urticaria by age and sex in China.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStatistical inference on change points in generalized semiparametric segmented models.
Biometrics
January 2025
Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
The segmented model has significant applications in scientific research when the change-point effect exists. In this article, we propose a comprehensive semiparametric framework in segmented models to test the existence and estimate the location of change points in the generalized outcome setting. The proposed framework is based on a semismooth estimating equation for the change-point estimation and an average score-type test for hypothesis testing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe use of proximal fragment transverse Kirschner wire as a joystick to correct rotational displacement in Gartland type III pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures: a novel technique.
J Pediatr Orthop B
March 2025
Department of Orthopaedics, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Deemed to be University Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Supracondylar humerus fractures comprise of a major part in pediatric trauma cases. They result from a fall on an outstretched hand. The rotational components of Gartland type III fractures if not corrected appropriately can lead to cubitus varus (gun stock deformity).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdvanced Anticounterfeiting: Angle-Dependent Structural Color-Based CuO/ZnO Nanopatterns with Deep Neural Network Supervised Learning.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces
March 2025
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chungbuk National University (CBNU), 1, Chungdae-ro, Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28644, Republic of Korea.
Current anticounterfeiting technologies rely on deterministic processes that are easily replicable, require specialized devices for authentication, and involve complex manufacturing, resulting in high costs and limited scalability. This study presents a low-cost, mass-producible structural color-based anticounterfeiting pattern and a simple algorithm for discrimination. Nanopatterns aligned with the direction of incident light were fabricated by electrospinning, while CuO and ZnO were grown independently through a solution process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAt-risk opioid users in a managed care insured population: Identifica-tion and outreach from a medical and pharmacy claims database.
J Opioid Manag
March 2025
Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3397-9679.
Objective: To deploy an algorithm using medical and pharmacy claims data to identify members of a managed care organization at risk for opioid misuse and provide outreach.
Methods: A retrospective review of 2019 enrollment information and prescription and medical claims data identified members aged 18-64 years with medical and pharmacy benefits and at least one paid pharmacy claim for an opioid. The most recent paid prescription claim served as the index date for each patient.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!