Remote CMM model cuts readmissions by 44%, provides 3:1 ROI
A pediatric-focused, telehealth-enabled comprehensive medication management model from Perfecting Peds supports medically complex children by remotely reviewing therapies, identifying drug therapy problems, optimizing dosing, and coordinating with care teams. The program has shown strong clinical impact, resolving thousands of medication issues, reducing hospital readmissions by 44%, and avoiding unnecessary ED and clinic visits. Families report high satisfaction, with fewer adverse effects and clearer treatment plans. Financially, the model produces substantial value, averaging more than $400 in monthly savings per patient and delivering a validated 3:1 return on investment. (GTMRX case study)
Do you really know what patients are taking?
Patients increasingly use supplements, alternative therapies, and self-tracking devices without telling their healthcare provider, warns Fred Pelzman, MD. Standard intake questions often miss what patients do between visits, from herbal products to glucose monitors. Clinicians must understand these activities because patients are doing far more than clinicians realize outside the exam room, he writes. Asking more openly—and discovering what patients may not volunteer—can strengthen understanding and build trust, which he argues is essential for truly effective care. (MedPage Today)
Practice Transformation
Pharmacist involvement cuts ICU deaths, shortens stays
Greater pharmacist involvement in ICU medication management is linked to better patient outcomes, according to research published in Critical Care Medicine. Among more than 10,000 critically ill adults, those whose care included more pharmacist-led medication reviews had lower hospital death rates and shorter ICU stays. These benefits remained even after accounting for illness severity and medication complexity. The findings highlight the vital role of critical care pharmacists in improving survival and recovery for patients in intensive care. (Critical Care Medicine)
FDA pushes biosimilars, USPTO pushes back
U.S. efforts to lower biologic drug costs face mixed progress. The FDA has proposed streamlined rules to speed approval of biosimilars — cheaper versions of complex biologic medicines — by reducing clinical trial requirements and easing “switching” standards. Supporters say the changes could cut development time and save millions. But the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is making it harder for challengers to contest the dense “patent thickets” brand-name manufacturers use to block competition, potentially delaying lower-cost options for years. (KFF Health News)
Evidence & Innovation
Dedicated EHR time reduces burnout, maintains productivity
Scheduling dedicated time for EHR tasks within physician appointments reduced after-hours and non-workday EHR use by 25–29 minutes per week and lowered burnout by 81%, according to a study in JAMA Network Open. Productivity, measured by RVUs, declined only slightly. The intervention provided focused time for messaging, prior authorizations, and prescription refills, improving efficiency. The researchers say this approach can reduce clinician burden while maintaining revenue and supporting patient care. Providing dedicated time for asynchronous work may alleviate clinician burnout without compromising revenue. (MedPage Today; JAMA Network Open)
Policy Solutions
Medicaid cuts add to rural health care woes
Rural health systems nationwide are under increasing strain as declining Medicaid reimbursements threaten community clinics. In New Hampshire, Ammonoosuc Community Health Services closed its Franconia clinic after a funding shortfall, leaving 1,400 mostly elderly or medically fragile patients without nearby care. Experts warn this reflects a national trend: Community health centers, already operating on thin margins, are struggling to sustain services, raising the risk of widespread rural clinic and hospital closures and reduced access to essential care. (AP)
