New Data: Advanced Pharmacy Model Significantly Reduces Gaps in Care for Patients with Chronic and Complex Conditions; Improves Clinical and Financia...(collaborative discussions with the patie...),Health

"The focus today in health care is on developing a fully-wired system. This system is already a reality at Medco," said Snow. "Our TRC model allows us to aggregate, in real time, 100 percent of prescription drug data and complementary medical information to identify and close gaps in care, drive proactive improvements, and prevent harmful drug interactions that also add to our nation's huge health care bill."

Lower Costs; Better Outcomes

These TRC analyses add to the growing body of evidence that overall cost of caring for patients decreases as the gaps in pharmacy care are closed. A separate Medco study published in the journal Medical Care, found that average yearly combined pharmacy and medical costs for the patients who were not adhering to evidence-based treatment protocols was $8,867 compared to $4,570 for patients adherent to their treatment regimen. On average, each diabetes patient not properly adhering to recommended therapy increases health care costs by as much as $2,200 per year.

"There is no denying that the unnecessary costs created by clinical gaps in prescription drug care are huge -- but human costs are even higher. When people with diabetes fail to follow their medication or monitor their blood sugar, they risk blindness, amputations, renal failure and other serious complications. People with high blood pressure risk heart attack or stroke if not properly controlled through drug therapy," said Dr. Peter Juhn, president of Medco's TRC pharmacy practice. "Developing a care model that identifies at-risk patients and effectively intervenes through counseling and education is critical for preventing these avoidable consequences."

"These results validate our belief that an advanced pharmacy model drives superior financial and clinical benefits," Snow said. "We have already begun eva
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