Exploring the Valley of Savings: Minimizing Part D Costs and Optimizing Drug Therapy Outcomes in Medicare Beneficiaries With Developmental Disability.
A pharmacy-nonprofit team cut drug costs and caught medication errors for adults with developmental disabilities by reviewing their Medicare Part D plans.
01Research in Context
What this study did
A pharmacy teamed up with a nonprofit to help adults with developmental disabilities.
They checked each person’s Medicare Part D drug plan.
The team also looked for unsafe drug mixes and missing meds.
What they found
The new plan cut drug costs for every participant.
The team also found serious medication problems that had been missed.
How this fits with other research
Finlay et al. (2023) asked Canadian families why they skip disability programs. They blamed red tape and unclear rules. Titlestad et al. (2019) show a fix: hands-on help slashes costs and catches errors.
Wang et al. (2013) found kids with autism on Medicaid cost four times more than kids on private plans. Titlestad et al. (2019) shift the lens to adults and prove that a quick pharmacy review can shrink those bills.
Waldron et al. (2023) report that families loved COVID-era Medicaid flexibilities like telehealth. Titlestad et al. (2019) add another flexibility worth keeping: free medication check-ups that save money and keep people safe.
Why it matters
You can copy this team. Ask your local pharmacy or nonprofit to run Part D “sweeps” for your adult clients. One meeting can lower monthly drug costs and spot risky prescriptions. Bring the results to plan renewal time—families get cheaper, safer meds without switching doctors.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Nonelderly disabled Medicare beneficiaries have a higher prevalence of chronic conditions, higher utilization of prescription medications, and increased demand for clinical services when compared to beneficiaries 65 years of age and older who are not disabled. Out-of-pocket costs and medication-related problems are major barriers to medication compliance and achievement of therapeutic goals. A school of pharmacy partnered with a nonprofit organization that provides care to individuals with developmental disabilities. The present study highlights outcomes resulting from (a) providing Medicare Part D plan optimization services to lower prescription drug costs and (b) Medication Therapy Management services to evaluate safe and effective medication use in this beneficiary population. Provided interventions were shown to reduce overall medication costs and identify significant medication-related problems.
Intellectual and developmental disabilities, 2019 · doi:10.1352/1934-9556-57.3.234