HOPE Center Study Evaluates the Relationship Between Diabetic Medication Adherence and Economic Outcomes in Commercial Health Plans

March 16, 2021

(March 16, 2021)

College of Pharmacy and HOPE Center faculty DAVID RHYS AXON, PhD, MPharm, MS and TERRI WARHOLAK, PhD, RPh and doctoral student LEA MOLLON, PharmD co-authored a new study in the Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy titled Evaluating the relationship between quality measure adherence definitions and economic outcomes in commercial health plans: a retrospective diabetes cohort study. This was a 1-year retrospective study designed to assess an association between adherence (taking medications as prescribed) – based on the Pharmacy Quality Alliance Proportion of Days Covered Diabetes All Class medication adherence measure – and health care utilization and expenditure among commercially insured individuals using antidiabetic medications. Of the 1,576,112 eligible participants, 65.2% adhered to their antidiabetic medication regimen, which was associated with lower incremental per member per month expenditures for inpatient, outpatient, and total expenditures, but higher prescription drug expenditures than nonadherent participants. Co-authors also include College of Pharmacy Health & Pharmaceutical Outcomes Program alumni Chanadda Chinthammit, PhD and Patrick Campbell, PhD, and HOPE Center affiliate Ann Taylor, MPH, MCHES.