AJMC® in the Press, May 11, 2018

Americas Health Insurance Plans’ Monday Accountable Care SmartBrief included a study published in The American Journal of Managed Care^®’s (AJMC^®'s) May issue. The study, “Changes in Specialty Care Use and Leakage in Medicare Accountable Care Organizations,” sought to examine changes in specialty care leakage and use associated with the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). Researchers concluded that leakage of specialty care changed minimally in MSSP, suggesting ineffective efforts to reduce leakage.

The study, “Impact of Formulary Restrictions on Medication Intensification in Diabetes Treatment,” also in AJMC^®'s May issue, was included in the National Pharmaceutical Council’s Monday CER Daily Newsfeed. The study found that formulary restrictions on brand name noninsulin antihyperglycemic drugs have little impact on treatment intensification patterns among low-income patients with diabetes in Medicare Part D.

MultiBriefs included an AJMC^® published study in its article on outpatient pharmacies. The study, “Impact of a Pharmacy-Based Transitional Care Program on Hospital Readmissions,” found that patients receiving postdischarge care from pharmacists had a 28% lower risk of readmission at 30 days and a 31.9% lower risk at 180 days compared with usual care.