rx matters - walgreens · 2017-03-27 · but we’re confident you’ll be happy with the results....

Focusing on Your Priorities to Serve You Better You will soon start to see the results of a strategic realignment of our structure and processes that has evolved over the past few months. One of the most notable changes is the implementation of a regional structure. This change is being led by our new Chief Sales Officer, Jeff Zavada. Jeff comes to us with a wealth of experience, and has begun to put into place a number of enhancements, all designed with one purpose: to create a better customer experience for you.

This new regional structure will better position us to meet the unique local and regional needs of you and your members. Our regional teams will be supported by a corporate staff that has deep expertise across all Walgreens capabilities, increasing the number of resources available to you.

No matter what your business needs, there are two key people dedicated to supporting your company, a strategic account executive and a client service manager. Our goals are that you’ll experience greater continuity and improved customer service.

Also in This Issue: Positive Results with MedMonitor® .......................... 2

Spanish Mail Service Brochure May Increase Utilization .......4

Webinars Add Value for Nurses and Case Managers ............. 5

Web Site Demonstrations Promote Utilization .................6

Respiratory Pilot Programs Increase Awareness ...............6

Benefits of E-Prescribing for Specialty Medications ........... 7

On-Site Pharmacies Help to Improve Adherence ............... 9

Auto Refill Notification May Reduce Costs .........................10

Upcoming Trade Shows and Events ............................. 11

A newsletter created to assist our clients in learning about the many

ways to achieve and sustain a convenient, coordinated and consistent

healthcare solution, along with delivering a mix of news and trends in

today’s healthcare arena

continued on p. 2

Strategic Account Executive Client Service Manager

Manages the overall relationship with your organization and is responsible for meeting with you on a regular basis to review your plan performance, establish criteria to measure success and collaborate on strategic initiatives.

Manages any day-to-day operational issues that may arise and will respond promptly to you and your team in a way that exceeds your expectations.

Volume 4, Number 4

Rx Matters

Moving forward, we’ll work together to identify your priorities and identify the offerings—across the company—that will help you attain them. Some of our methods may seem a bit different at first, but we’re confident you’ll be happy with the results.

To support the integration of our sales and service organization, you’ll also begin to see changes in our branding in the near future. The Walgreens brand will replace the sub-brands within the organization, including those of the companies we’ve acquired.

To further support the integration of our Company, the content within Rx Matters will reflect the full range of healthcare solutions available from Walgreens to support you as your business needs grow and change. In the future, the distribution will be quarterly and be available online and in print.

We are very excited about the changes happening within our Company that will help us to not only meet your expectations, but exceed them. Let your strategic account executive know how they can best serve you!

MedMonitor® Complete Program Provides Positive ROI and Clinical Impact MedMonitor® Complete is our industry-leading, holistic utilization management program, which is designed to support pharmacy benefit and total healthcare cost containment. It is comprised of two programs, MedMonitor®24 and MedMonitor®XR.

MedMonitor24 goes beyond traditional retrospective drug utilization review (RDUR). It is a daily prescription medication evaluation program that helps payors save money on expensive, preventable healthcare costs while improving members’ well-being. Our clinical pharmacists facilitate this by identifying possible drug-drug interactions, opportunities to move from a nonpreferred medication to a preferred or generic medication, quantity limits, and age limitations for every prescription, every daySM.

MedMonitorXR is the next-generation medication therapy management (MTM) program that helps contain payors drug spend and other healthcare costs while also improving their members’ well-being. Members with the most complex medication profiles and those who account for a disproportionately high share of a plan’s total drug spend are actively managed through this program.

Focusing on Your Priorities (continued from p. 1)

“We believe healthcare is local and presence is critical to driving successful outcomes.”

— Jeff Zavada Chief Sales Officer

22©2009 Walgreen Co. All rights reserved. Volume 4, Number 4

Rx Matters

How Payors Benefit Walgreens analysis of our 2008 book of business showed a significant return on investment (ROI) for both the MedMonitor24 and MedMonitorXR programs, as well as positive clinical impact (CI)* percentages (see the 2008 Book of Business Outcomes table below). The ROI for MedMonitor24 was 9.8-to-1, meaning that plans realized on average $9.80 savings for every plan dollar invested into the program. The CI of 35 percent is equally impressive. Improving adherence, eliminating duplicate therapies, and decreasing dosages to safer amounts are examples of how our interventions help prevent adverse drug events for patients and save payors money.

MedMonitorXR also delivered positive ROI and CI results for the Appropriateness of Therapy (AOT) and Inappropriate Medications in the Elderly (IMIE) Programs. Additionally, for the Polypharmacy Program we analyzed actual prescription cost savings per intervened member per year (PIMPY). In 2008, the average amount saved PIMPY was more than $253.

MedMonitor Complete is the most comprehensive solution in the industry: a proven utilization program that optimizes both patient care and plan savings. Other program differentiators include:

• Patient matching capabilities generate a single patient therapeutic profile view. • Clinical criteria, developed by our skilled clinical pharmacists, are based on evidence-based national guidelines and prescribing information. All criteria are reviewed through our MedMonitor Complete Clinical Committee and subsequently by our Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee, comprised of expert clinicians and physicians. • Robust reporting packages include client- and patient-level reporting, CMS-required reporting and MedMonitorXR network pharmacy reporting. • Recommended interventions are sent to the member’s prescriber, pharmacist and the member, to help ensure that their healthcare team is fully engaged and aware of any changes in therapy that are made. • Pharmacy network is comprised of more than 10,000 MedMonitorXR-contracted pharmacies with network pharmacists who are trained to provide MedMonitorXR services, including face-to-face patient consultations.

continued on p. 4

* CI is a measurement of actual successful interventions indicating the percentage of clinical recommendations communicated to prescribers that were actually implemented during the outcomes evaluation period.

©2009 Walgreen Co. All rights reserved. Volume 4, Number 423

2008 Book of Business Outcomes

MedMonitor24

ROI* 9.8-to-1

CI 35%

MedMonitorXR

Polypharmacy

ROI** 1.9-to-1

PIMPY Savings*** $253.08

AOT

ROI* 31.4-to-1

CI 15%

IMIE

ROI* 23.8-to-1

CI 32%

*Includes prescription and inferred medical savings.

**Includes only prescription savings.***Per intervened member per year.

Our MedMonitorXR network pharmacies will also now be able to register for access to our MedMonitor Complete Provider Portal. In addition to the standard modes of communication (online, mail, telephone, fax), this new technology allows for real-time sharing of communication between our Clinical Care Center and network pharmacies, eliminating the risk for fax interpretation errors, and improving workflow and billing/reimbursement efficiencies.

To learn more about how MedMonitor Complete can help reduce costs and to request a prospective analysis, contact your strategic account executive.

Spanish Mail Service Member Brochure Increases Utilization of Services We’ve added a Spanish version of our standard mail service brochure for Spanish-speaking members. This brochure provides new members or those new to mail service with the details on how to register and begin using Walgreens Mail Service. Having the information available in Spanish can help them more fully understand the benefits of mail service and increase its utilization, which may help improve medication adherence and decrease costs for both plans and members.

The brochures can be co-branded with your logo, providing a more customized look. In addition to the standard English and Spanish versions, we also have targeted brochures for Workers’ Compensation and Medicare.

For more information on adding mail service to your plan or to request any of these brochures, contact your strategic account executive.


Rx MattersMedMonitor Complete Program (continued from p. 3)

Farmacia de

servicio por correo

Para más información, visite:

WalgreensMail.com/easy (en inglés)

Envíe sus recetas a:

[P.O. Box 628001]

[Orlando, FL 32862-8001]

Centro de Cuidado al Cliente de Walgreens

[XXX-XXX-XXXX]

Lunes a viernes,

8 a. m. a 10 p. m. (hora del este)

Sábado y domingo,

8 a. m. a 5 p. m.

En español: [800-778-5427]

Teléfono de texto: 877-220-6173

Ahorros con medicamentos genéricos

Los medicamentos genéricos ofrecen los

mismos beneficios que sus equivalentes de

marca y, normalmente, son mucho más

económicos. Revisamos cada pedido de

receta para analizar si hay un medicamento

genérico menos costoso. A menos que el

doctor, la persona que recetó el medicamento

o la ley estatal indiquen lo contrario,

cuando esté disponible, proporcionaremos

un medicamento genérico equivalente

aprobado por la FDA. Si usted no quiere

un medicamento genérico, por favor,

comuníquese con nuestro Centro de Cuidado

al Cliente.

Acerca de la privacidad y la seguridad

La información que nos proporcione se

mantendrá de manera confidencial conforme

a las normas de la Ley de Responsabilidad

y Transferibilidad de Seguros Médicos

(HIPAA, por sus siglas en inglés) y otras leyes

estatales sobre privacidad aplicables. Además,

utilizamos tecnología que está diseñada

para su uso con servidores web seguros, la

cual garantiza que no se pueda acceder a su

información personal, de salud, recetas y

tarjeta de crédito cuando ésta se envía a través

de Internet.

Entrega conveniente y confiable para los

miembros/empleados, reclamante, empleado/

jubilado, asociado, jubilado, empleado...

Forma de código o cláusula de exención de responsabilidad

©2009 Walgreen Co. Todos los derechos reservados. MS11660-0809

MS11660_MemeberMail_TRI.indd 1

9/30/09 2:58:11 PM

Webinars Provide Added Value for Your Nurses and Case Managers Keeping your professional staff up to date is important. That’s why Walgreens now offers continuing education credits via webinars for professionals who need to earn registered nursing (RN) or certified case manager (CCM) continuing education hours.

Here’s how it works. Invitations are sent to potential participants two weeks prior to the presentation. The live web/voice presentations are scheduled during the lunch hour, providing minimal disruption to work schedules. Numerous participants from one location can register as a group if they prefer.

Participants can earn one RN or CCM credit hour for attending and answering the required assessment questions at the end of the webinar. Certificates of completion are issued electronically. If you would like to add your name, or the name of a staff member to our email notification list or would like more information about upcoming webinars, contact your strategic account executive or email [email protected].


Thank youfor participating in our CE webinar!

Web Site Demonstrations Promote Utilization Online and in-person demonstrations of our member web sites can help increase members’ online registration and utilization, resulting in more engaged, satisfied members. Pia Simeoni, lead Internet services and training specialist for our division, said demonstrations can be offered in a variety of settings. “We have experience delivering webinars and on-site demonstrations for all of our web sites from MyWHI.com to WalgreensMail.com to a variety of audiences, including human resources staff members and employees during employer health fairs. The demonstrations are geared to promote consumerism through online self-service,” she said.

Demonstrations focus on member tools and features: •Onlinedrugrefills•Drugcostandcoveragetool•Printableprescriptionhistory•Onlinepasswordreset

By helping members become more aware of the online services available to them, they become empowered to make more informed decisions regarding their healthcare.

For more information or to request a demonstration, please contact your strategic account executive.

Respiratory Pilot Programs Raise Physician and Consumer Awareness Walgreens is leveraging its retail stores to raise consumer and physician awareness about our respiratory services. Two pilot programs launched in select markets focus on identifying early-stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and increasing consumer awareness of Walgreens oxygen services.

The first pilot program involves working with prescribing physicians to identify early-stage COPD patients who may benefit from clinical intervention. Early intervention, coupled with coordinated care among the physician, patient and our clinicians, patient education and clinical monitoring allows for timely and effective management of co-morbidities, and helps improve patient adherence to prescribed therapies.


Rx Matters

Our second pilot focuses on building consumer awareness of our home and travel oxygen services, and encourages patients to actively participate in their treatment. When patients inquire about our

services, our pharmacists provide them with a toll-free number, where they are transferred to one of our local home care locations for assistance. Our clinicians work to optimize treatment results by helping to ensure that patients have the appropriate oxygen system and care plan for their individual lifestyle and therapy needs. This approach increases adherence, which reduces exacerbation of the patient’s health condition and prevents recurring doctor visits and hospitalizations.

Both programs work to better manage healthcare costs through increased awareness, early detection and improved adherence, benefitting both health plans and their members.

For more information contact your strategic account executive.

E-Prescribing for Costly Specialty Medications Improves Adherence and Manages Cost One of the most costly obstacles associated with specialty medications is a lack of medication management and adherence, which often leads to unnecessary emergency room visits, hospitalizations, medication waste and costly disease-related complications. It’s estimated that more than 130 million Americans have chronic conditions costing $50 billion in medications while patient adherence with prescribed medication regimens is less than 50 percent.

What Can Help?E-prescribing minimizes obstacles that may result in decreased patient adherence, such as the ability for quicker turnaround on prescription fulfillment and providing convenient online access for physicians to monitor their patients’ persistency. With specialty medications, e-prescribing prescription accuracy is also especially important in monitoring medication interactions with therapies that have complex regimens, need to be taken on a strict schedule and are increasingly used for life-threatening diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and cancer.

As for safety, e-prescribing allows physicians to easily access a patient’s comprehensive medication history and sends an alert to the physician if there’s a problem due to drug-drug or drug-allergy interaction, drug appropriateness, correct dosage, diagnosis, body weight or age. Michigan’s Henry Ford Health System found that e-prescribing resulted in a 24 percent reduction in the incidence of patients with prescription claims for severely contraindicated medications.

continued on p. 8


Who Can Help?Healthcare payors, including health plans, large self-insured employers, the government and pharmacies, such as Walgreens, are seeking innovative ways to better manage costs and improve quality and outcomes. E-prescribing is one part of the solution. A recent study by the Pharmaceutical

Care Management Association (PCMA) found that over the next 10 years e-prescribing is expected to save the federal government $22 billion in drug and medical costs and help prevent 3.5 million serious medication errors that otherwise would have sickened, hospitalized or killed patients.

Payors are also continuing to adopt e-prescribing because more information is available on the return on investment in terms of both cost savings and patient safety. A recent study found that because of access to a patient’s health plan eligibility and formulary information, e-prescribers in Massachusetts increased use of generics and other lower-cost options, resulting in estimated savings of $845,000 per 100,000 patients per year.

Healthcare payors can play a very important role in encouraging e-prescribing to improve medication management and decrease costs. Payors can provide incentives for adopting e-prescribing, work directly with members to encourage adherence and the use of a personal medication record and collaborate with other payors to advance the shared goal of improving medication management.

What Is Walgreens Doing?To support this important initiative, Walgreens has identified 35,000 specialty pharmacy prescribers certified for e-prescribing and launched an awareness campaign through a combination of one-on-one communication from our sales team and a direct marketing campaign to encourage them to utilize the benefits of this technology.

Walgreens e-prescribing solution allows new prescriptions, refill requests and refill responses to be sent electronically to any of our five specialty pharmacy central fulfillment centers across the country. In addition, physicians can create customized protocols for appropriate therapies to meet patients’ needs, including fertility. Future e-prescribing campaigns will provide education and implementation assistance for all specialty prescribers.

Walgreens fully supports the use of e-prescribing technology to promote medication management and adherence to help reduce the many contributing factors which can lead to increased long-term medical costs.


Rx MattersE-Prescribing Improves Adherence (continued from p. 7)

Over the next 10 years e-prescribing is expected to save the federal government

$22 billion in drug and medical costs and help prevent 3.5 million serious

medication errors.

On-site Pharmacies Strive to Improve Medication Adherence When the Walgreens on-site pharmacy at the Southampton Professional building in St. Louis opened in April, we reached a milestone of 100 on-site pharmacies operating in hospitals, clinics and medical centers in 25 states (currently more than 105). “We are a central point of care and support for patitents who are treated by doctors in this building,” says Daron Smith, manager of the Southampton on-site pharmacy. “The doctors in this building treat about 8,000 patients annually. We’re here to make those patients’ lives easier, whether they need retail, specialty, home care or mail service prescription services.”

Although our first on-site pharmacy began operating in San Francisco in 1995, the majority have opened since 2007 through both organic growth and acquisitions. Each location varies in size from 225 to 3,000 square feet and has customized pharmacy services and inventory for the medications most often prescribed for the conditions treated at the particular facility. For example, pharmacists have specialized training in the conditions being treated by the physicians in that building as well as in ancillary services we offer, such as home care, medication compounding, bedside delivery and immunizations.

While no two on-site pharmacies are alike, the benefits are universal—these sites are meant to lower long-term healthcare costs by promoting adherence. Patients pick up their medications as they walk out of the hospital or healthcare center. And, because all onsite pharmacies are connected to the network of Walgreens pharmacies, members can pick up refills at any of our more than 7,000 community pharmacies. Our pharmacists work closely with the patients’ healthcare team, including physicians, nurses and case managers to promote optimal patient outcomes.

“We’re very close to the patient,” says Mike Suwalski, director, On-Site Pharmacy Operations. “That convenience and attention improves drug adherence and puts patients on the road to better health. In

some cases, on-site pharmacies are often a patient’s first Walgreens connection, which allows us to introduce people to the many additional services we offer that promote adherence.”

To learn more about how on-site pharmacies can improve patient outcomes, email [email protected].


Auto Refill Advance Notification Reduces Costs Implementation of Walgreens Mail Service’s new email notification can help reduce the number of shipments of unwanted medications.

Now members with email addresses on file will receive an email notifying them when their auto refill prescriptions are about to be shipped. This email is sent five days before the auto refill process begins. If necessary, members can log in to their online account to cancel the auto refill of an unwanted order with a few easy clicks.

If a member isn’t registered on WalgreensMail.com or MyWHI.com, the link will include messaging to encourage the member to create an online account, where they can easily turn auto refills on and off. If, after three days, the email is unread or cannot be delivered to the address on file, the member will then receive an automated call.

This enhancement is just one of a number of enhancements implemented to continue to increase member satisfaction and manage costs.


Rx Matters

Upcoming Trade Shows and Events Stop by the Walgreens booth at the following events to learn more about the innovative solutions we can offer our clients:

Dates Conference Location

November 8-11

IFEBP: International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans 55th Annual Employee Benefits Conference

Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL

November 12-13

NAMCP: National Association of Managed Care Physicians Fall Managed Care Forum

Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas, NV

January 25-26 19th Annual National Health Benefits Conference & Expo (HBCE) Sheraton Sand Key Resort Clearwater, FL

ReferencesE-Prescribing for Costly Specialty Medications Improves Adherence and Manages CosteHealth Initiative and The Center for Improving Medication Management. A Guide for Health Care Payers to Improve the Medication Management Process: June 2008. http://www.ehealthinitiative.org/sites/default/files/eHI_CIMM_Guide_for_Payers_Final.pdf. Accessed October 2009.

Surescripts. 2008 National Progress Report on E-Prescribing. Surescrips Web site. http:// www.surescripts.com/downloads/NPR/national-progress-report.pdf. Accessed October 2009.

American recovery and reinvestment act will save billions and reduce medication errors by accelerating e-prescribing [press release]. Washington, DC PCMA; March 16, 2009. www.pcmanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/final-arra-impact-on-eprescribing.pdf. Accessed August 2009.


For more information, visit WalgreensHealth.com, call 866-728-5795 or email [email protected].

Editorial Board

Editor Sharon Tarnoff Designer Helen Whang

Corporate Office 1411 Lake Cook Rd., Deerfield, IL 60015

Some products and services may not be available in Puerto Rico.

Brand names are the property of their respective owners.

This publication does not constitute professional advice. Although it is intended to be accurate, neither Walgreen Co., its subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage due to reliance on this material. If you have a medical question, consult your medical professional.

Articles in Walgreen Co. Rx Matters may be reprinted only by clients of Walgreen Co., or respective agent(s) of clients. Please attach the following statement: Reprinted with permission. ©2009 Walgreen Co. All rights reserved.

Rx Matters

WAG11876-1009

rx matters - walgreens · 2017-03-27 · but we’re confident you’ll be happy with the results....

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