Drug-related morbidity and mortality cost the United States over $177.4 billion annually and are especially daunting among the elderly. To improve pharmacotherapy outcomes and reduce costs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) established medication management therapy (MTM) programs as part of the Medicare prescription drug benefits (Part D) in 2006. Unfortunately, MTM enrollment has fallen below CMS targets mainly due to issues in MTM program design. Further, based on our previous policy scenario analysis, primarily supported by an NIA R01, MTM eligibility criteria may be too restrictive for racial/ethnic minorities and may perpetuate racial/ethnic disparities in health outcomes, because MTM eligibility is based on utilization of medications, which minorities tend to use less. CMS attempted to relax MTM eligibility thresholds, citing our research, but potential disparities remain with the utilization-based eligibility criteria. A critical barrier to effective MTM reform is the lack of stronger information about the actual effects of MTM on minorities' outcomes, utilization of MTM by minorities, and the cost-effectiveness of MTM. We will fill this knowledge gap through our proposed research with newly available MTM data. Our long-term goal is to improve the health status of older adults among diverse populations by improving medication utilization and reducing racial/ethnic disparities in medication utilization and health outcomes. We will analyze Medicare Parts A/B/D data (2015- 2016), linked to Area Health Resources Files. Our expected outcomes include new information on: (1) effects of MTM on racial/ethnic disparities in medication utilization, utilization/costs of health services, and mortality; (2) measures of MTM utilization, such as MTM delivery methods, that exhibit disparity patterns; and (3) cost- effectiveness of MTM from the perspectives of Medicare and health system. We will measure medication utilization using evidence-based statin prescribing and other measures primarily developed by Pharmacy Quality Alliance and adopted by Star Ratings, a health-plan-quality evaluation system tied to CMS bonus payments to Part D plans. Utilization/costs of services include those of physician visits, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations (e.g., hospitalizations originating from ambulatory care sensitive conditions). We will apply multivariate regression models, a difference-in-difference strategy and negative benefit regression models using frequentist and Bayesian approaches.
Aim 1 : Test the hypothesis that MTM programs have reduced racial/ethnic disparities in quality of medication utilization, and health services utilization and costs.
Aim 2 : Test the hypothesis that non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics receive fewer and delayed MTM services than Whites.
Aim 3 : Test the hypothesis that MTM is a cost-effective program. Impact: Our results will provide much- needed empirical evidence to guide MTM policy-making by CMS, and assist the NIA/NIH in its strategic goals of informing ?policy decisions? and ?understand(ing) health disparities and develop(ing) strategies to improve the health status of older adults in diverse populations.?

Public Health Relevance

Our long-term goal is to improve the health status of older adults in diverse populations by improving medication utilization and reducing racial/ethnic disparities in medication utilization and health outcomes. Our results will provide much-needed empirical evidence to guide policy-making by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and assist the National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health in its strategic goals of informing ?policy decisions,? and ?understand(ing) health disparities and develop(ing) strategies to improve the health status of older adults in diverse populations.?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AG040146-04A1
Application #
9661421
Study Section
Health Disparities and Equity Promotion Study Section (HDEP)
Program Officer
Phillips, John
Project Start
2011-09-01
Project End
2022-12-31
Budget Start
2019-02-15
Budget End
2019-12-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
941884009
City
Memphis
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
38103
Jamison, JoEllen Jarrett; Wang, Junling; Surbhi, Satya et al. (2016) Impact of Medicare Part D on Racial and Ethnic Minorities. Divers Equal Health Care 13:326-333
Wang, Junling; Hong, Song Hee (2015) Contingent valuation and pharmacists' acceptable levels of compensation for medication therapy management services. Res Social Adm Pharm 11:e121-32
Wang, Junling; Qiao, Yanru; Shih, Ya-Chen Tina et al. (2015) Potential Health Implications of Medication Therapy Management Eligibility Criteria in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Across Racial and Ethnic Groups. J Manag Care Spec Pharm 21:993-1003
Wang, Junling; Surbhi, Satya; Kuhle, Julie W (2014) Receipt of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers among Medicare Beneficiaries with Diabetes and Hypertension. J Pharm Health Serv Res 5:67-74
Wang, Junling; Surbhi, Satya; Zhang, Zhiping et al. (2014) Historical trend of racial and ethnic disparities in meeting Medicare medication therapy management eligibility in non-Medicare population. Res Social Adm Pharm 10:904-917
Wang, Junling; Qiao, Yanru; Tina Shih, Ya-Chen et al. (2014) Potential effects of racial and ethnic disparities in meeting Medicare medication therapy management eligibility criteria. J Pharm Health Serv Res 5:109-118
Wang, Junling; Qiao, Yanru; Tina Shih, Ya-Chen et al. (2014) Potential health implications of racial and ethnic disparities in meeting MTM eligibility criteria. Res Social Adm Pharm 10:106-125
Wang, Junling; Munshi, Kiraat D; Hong, Song Hee (2014) Racial and ethnic disparities in influenza vaccinations among community pharmacy patients and non-community pharmacy respondents. Res Social Adm Pharm 10:126-40
Wang, Junling; Qiao, Yanru (2013) Historical trend of disparity implications of Medicare MTM eligibility criteria. Res Social Adm Pharm 9:758-69
Munshi, Kiraat D; Shih, Ya-Chen T; Brown, Lawrence M et al. (2013) Disparity implications of the Medicare medication therapy management eligibility criteria: a literature review. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 13:201-16

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