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Practice Transformation

Address depression to correct misinformation?
People who experience depressive symptoms may be more receptive to misinformation related to COVID-19 vaccines, according to research published in JAMA Network Open. “This survey study found that individuals with moderate or greater depressive symptoms were more likely to endorse vaccine-related misinformation,” according to researchers. “[B]y addressing the extremely high levels of depression in this country during COVID, we might decrease people’s susceptibility to misinformation,” says lead author Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, of Massachusetts General Hospital. (JAMA Network Openannouncement)
VA’s telehealth CMM program
Veterans prescribed oral antineoplastic therapies by providers outside the VA system may lack access to comprehensive medication management. To address that, a multidisciplinary VA team developed and implemented a telehealth medication management program for these patients. It worked. “The delivery of comprehensive medication management through telehealth is feasible from a healthcare system perspective and beneficial for patients. […] The program realized several benefits, including positive clinical outcomes, high levels of patient satisfaction, and cost savings on medication-related costs.” (American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy)
One in five adults take obesogenic meds
Patients are often told to lose weight, but they are being prescribed medications that work against that goal, according to a new study. Roughly 20% of adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018 reported prescriptions for medications that cause weight gain, according to research published in Obesity. The most common obesogenic medications were beta-blockers and diabetes drugs. (Healio EndocrinologyObesity)

Evidence & Innovation

Continuity of care improves medication management
Another study shows the importance of care continuity, especially vis-à-vis medication management. Researchers writing in the British Journal of General Practice report that patients with dementia who have a high continuity of care receive better care quality than those who see different doctors. These patients experienced fewer emergency hospitalizations, fewer adverse effects of medication and reduced incidence of delirium. They were also less likely to face “extreme polypharmacy” and less likely to receive medications that could interfere with other drugs or otherwise worsen their symptoms. “Increasing continuity of care for patients with dementia may help improve treatment and outcomes,” researchers conclude. (British Journal of General PracticeMedical News Today)

Policy Solutions

State legislatures take on drug prices
Curbing high prescription drug prices is one of the top health care priorities state legislatures will be pursuing in 2022, according to experts at a briefing sponsored by the Alliance for Health Policy and Arnold Ventures. Much of the legislation involves limiting copays for insulin and increasing access to diabetes supplies. Another trend: reining in PBMs. This includes outlawing “gag” clauses and requiring PBMs to register or obtain licensure to do business in the state.” (MedPage Today)
For VBP success, CMS must consider market dynamics
Value-based models aren’t more successful because CMS fails to adequately confront market dynamics, according to a piece in Health Affairs Forefront. CMS leadership has “outlined bold strategic plans to improve its programs, but these changes alone may not achieve optimal results.” The solution? “CMS should consider where its policies have impact beyond Medicare and where non-Medicare market dynamics modulate the effectiveness of its programs. […] Policy makers’ deliberate attention to these complex interactions across public and private sectors can help to significantly improve the performance of Medicare VBP programs, with the additional benefit of healthier market dynamics that reduce health disparities and promote innovation. Without such efforts, VBP may never reach its full potential.” (Health Affairs ForefrontGTMRx Value Based Care Resources)

In Case You Missed It!

IMPORTANT: CMMI seeking a clinical pharmacist as part of the Seamless Care Models Group
DH Announcement (Direct Hire – Open to all U.S. Citizens):
Announcement number: CMS-CMMI-22-11350740-DE
Title, Series, Grade: Pharmacist, GS-0660-14
Close date: Tuesday, February 8, 2022
This position is being announced by the CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), Seamless Care Models Group (SCMG).
*You will lose consideration for the position if you do not submit the required documentation with your application. Please reference the Required Documents section in the announcement for further information.
Job summary:
  • Lead the design, development, implementation of innovative Part D pharmaceutical models with payment or service-delivery implications.
  • Provide recommendations to leadership on implementing innovative pharmaceutical payment models that improve access to critically needed drugs with a reduction in out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries and reduce federal government spending.
  • Lead CMS coordination with national professional organizations, private insurers, and pharmaceutical industry representatives on innovative pharmaceutical payment and care models.
  • Translate the results of Medicare Part D pricing studies into actionable policy and program recommendations that inform CMS Medicare Part D policies and processes with consideration of policy impacts, economic viability and technical feasibility.
  • Lead interpretation and analysis of pharmacy administrative claims and plan-reported data concerning drug coverage, pharmacy services and drug utilization patterns.
Watch Now! Value-based Strategies: A Better Way to Manage Medications | Hochman, Chen, Capps
Prescription medicine is the most common treatment for medical problems in America, but medication has the power both to heal and harm. Illness and death—resulting from the wrong prescription, the wrong dose, skipped doses or new medication-related issues—cost an estimated $528 billion each year.
Value-based payment models should support a new way to manage medications, particularly for patients suffering with multiple chronic conditions and those who see many physicians. Too often patients are precariously left to self-navigate a system that lacks coordination and communication between providers.
Comprehensive medication management (CMM) is proven solution. During this session you will hear from national experts experienced in advancing comprehensive medication management in primary care and integrating the role of the clinical pharmacist as an integral member of the primary care team. Want to see the evidence: the impact on cost and quality?
GTMRx was a proud sponsor of Health Care Value Week (January 24-28, 2022)
Watch now and find related resources here.
A Comprehensive Overview of the Institute, It’s Vision, Mission and Leadership
The Get the Medications Right Institute is working to decrease misuse, overuse and underuse of medications and avoid waste by advancing comprehensive medication management to ensure appropriate and personalized use of medications and gene therapies. Learn more in this brochure.
Interested in supporting our work?
Please contact Jeff Hanson (e: [email protected])
Advocacy in Action: New GTMRx Advocacy and Policy Update
The GTMRx Institute’s Precision Medicine Enablement via Advanced Diagnostics Workgroup invited congressional staff from the Personalized Medicine Caucus to present on draft PGx legislation underway on two occasions. The Personalized Medicine Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA), engages members in a constructive dialogue about legislative and regulatory policies that can help realize the full potential of personalized medicine. The recommendations that came out of these discussions were put into our Letter to the Personalized Medicine Caucus Co-Chairs—Representatives Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA)—on the Right Drug Dose Now Act.
Some of the topics covered in this letter include:
  • Incorporating comprehensive medication management definition and language.
  • Combining PGx testing with the CMM process of care.
  • Expanding implementation of EHR guidelines, education awareness campaigns, and reporting.
  • Clarifying the definition of adverse drug events.
You can find the rest of our Advocacy Letters and Policy Documents on the GTMRx website. Advocacy is a core component of the GTMRx Institute’s mission, and our policy positions are aimed at advancing acceptance and recognition of the importance of creating a systematic, evidence-based approach to medications and their rational use through CMM in practice. To advance our efforts, comments are submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), members of Congress, the Administration, and other public sector payers (OPM) as appropriate.
Join us to be part of meaningful change
Irma, like many others, struggles as a result of our current trial-and-error approach to medication. That is why we advocate for a new, comprehensive approach to medication use and prescribing. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organization, the GTMRx Institute and Foundation relies on funding from our supporting members. We ask that you consider becoming a Supporting Signing Member so we can continue to provide relevant, timely resources to get the medications right!
If you’re interested in supporting the Institute or Foundation at a higher level, please contact us. Your dollars will bring about meaningful change for people like Irma.

Become a Supporting Member Today

AmazonSmile is an easy way for 0.5% of your qualified purchases go to the GTMRx Foundation at no cost to you. And signing up is simple—go to smile.amazon.com and select “Get the Medications Right Foundation” as your charity of choice. If you prefer to directly donate instead, you can do so here.
Adding the foundation on AmazonSmile will help us continue to provide no cost educational webinars, issue briefs, weekly news briefs and promote the need for transformation of our current system of medication use through social media campaigns.
The GTMRx Institute is supported by our Founding Funders, Executive Members and Strategic Partners.
  See past issues of our weekly news brief here

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