Tips to Help Your Patients Improve Medication Adherence

Using the GuidedHealth^® clinical rules platform to review Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) claims data, patients with BCBSTX pharmacy benefits are identified as potentially non-adherent to an antiviral, cholesterol, diabetes, depression, hypertension and/or respiratory prescription drug. Informational letters are sent on a quarterly basis to prescribing providers of these identified members to help increase awareness and promote patient safety.

According to Script Your Future, a national campaign to raise awareness about medication adherence, nearly three out of four Americans do not take their medications as directed.* For patients with a chronic condition, non-adherence with prescriber instructions may lead to adverse events that may not be immediate but could be harmful over time. There are many reasons people do not take their medications, such as inconvenience, cost or side effects.

BCBSTX is increasingly looking at medication adherence as a quality measure. Listed below are some suggestions that may help your patients improve their medication adherence:

• Simplify the drug regimen by adjusting the timing, frequency, amount and/or dosage of the medications prescribed.
• Encourage honesty when screening your patients for medication adherence. Open communication and trust can lead to uncovering perceived barriers your patients may be facing that you can then help address.
• Explain the consequences of not taking the medication and provide clear, written instructions for taking their medications.
• Offer to prescribe a 90-day supply for home delivery pharmacy services or consider prescribing generics or other less expensive alternatives, if cost is an issue.
• Recommend that your patients set a routine/daily alert by using a pillbox or some other reminder system.
• Collaborate with all of your patient’s health care providers to deliver patient-centered complete care. Reach out to the patient’s caregiver as well, if appropriate.

GuidedHealth is a registered trademark of Prime Therapeutics LLC (Prime), a pharmacy benefit management company. BCBSTX contracts with Prime to provide pharmacy benefit management and other related services. BCBSTX, as well as several other Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, has an ownership interest in Prime. BCBSTX makes no endorsement, representations or warranties regarding GuidedHealth. If you have any questions about this product or services, you should contact Prime Therapeutics directly.

*Script Your Future, National Community Pharmacists Association and Pharmacists for the Protection of Patient Care Adherence Survey, 2006.

The information mentioned here is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician. Physicians are instructed to exercise their own medical judgment. Pharmacy benefits and limits are subject to the terms set forth in the member’s certificate of coverage. Members should refer to their certificate of coverage for more details, including benefits, limitations and exclusions. Regardless of benefits, the final decision about any medication is between the member and their health care provider.