DEERFIELD, Ill – April 12, 2017 – A recent Walgreens study of pharmacy patients enrolled in Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D), found that patients who were late to refill prescriptions and who received reminder calls from local Walgreens pharmacists, demonstrated nearly 23 percent greater adherence within the first 14 days of the expected refill date. Those receiving late-to-refill (LTR) reminder calls also had greater adherence rates over a one-year period. Results of the study were recently published online in Patient Preference & Adherence.[1]
“Improving medication adherence is critical to controlling most medical conditions – and for many medical conditions, enhancing adherence can also reduce hospitalizations and related medical costs,” said Harry Leider, M.D., chief medical officer, Walgreens. “This research provides further evidence of the positive impact we can have through targeted initiatives, such as the late-to-refill program, to help make our patients healthier and happier.”
The study shows that for Medicare Part D patients who exhibited non-adherent behavior – defined as not refilling at least three days prior to an expected refill date – an LTR reminder call increased the number of adherent patients by approximately 3 percent. This incremental improvement in patient adherence can serve to benefit Medicare Part D plans, and help improve star ratings and their associated cost savings.
Methodology
A randomized control study was conducted among more than 735,000 patients who exhibited non-adherent behavior. Patients were assigned to an intervention group and a control group, using Walgreens pharmaceutical claims data from 2015 to estimate the impact of LTR calls by pharmacists on short-term and annual adherence.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), one of the nation's largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 10 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,175 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.
Media Contact:
Scott Goldberg
847-315-7649
scott.goldberg@walgreens.com
http://news.walgreens.com
@WalgreensNews
facebook.com/Walgreens
“Improving medication adherence is critical to controlling most medical conditions – and for many medical conditions, enhancing adherence can also reduce hospitalizations and related medical costs,” said Harry Leider, M.D., chief medical officer, Walgreens. “This research provides further evidence of the positive impact we can have through targeted initiatives, such as the late-to-refill program, to help make our patients healthier and happier.”
The study shows that for Medicare Part D patients who exhibited non-adherent behavior – defined as not refilling at least three days prior to an expected refill date – an LTR reminder call increased the number of adherent patients by approximately 3 percent. This incremental improvement in patient adherence can serve to benefit Medicare Part D plans, and help improve star ratings and their associated cost savings.
Methodology
A randomized control study was conducted among more than 735,000 patients who exhibited non-adherent behavior. Patients were assigned to an intervention group and a control group, using Walgreens pharmaceutical claims data from 2015 to estimate the impact of LTR calls by pharmacists on short-term and annual adherence.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), one of the nation's largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 10 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,175 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.
# # # # #
Media Contact:
Scott Goldberg
847-315-7649
scott.goldberg@walgreens.com
http://news.walgreens.com
@WalgreensNews
facebook.com/Walgreens
[1] https://www.dovepress.com/impact-of-late-to-refill-reminder-calls-on-medication-adherence-in-the-peer-reviewed-article-PPA