UnitedHealthcare donates $90K to NACDS Foundation on behalf of TIP Challenge winning pharmacies

At the NACDS Foundation's annual dinner in New York City, representatives from UnitedHealthcare presented a donation to the foundation on behalf of the winners of the second annual UnitedHealthcare Medication Adherence TIP Challenge. From left: Adam Wilson, VP, Medicare Part D product, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement; Steve Anderson, chairman, NACDS Foundation Board of Directors, president and CEO, NACDS; Kary Graser, director of account management, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement; John Carlo, SVP, pharmacy, Wegmans; Marty Reyhons, director of strategic alliances, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement; Kathleen Jaeger, president, NACDS Foundation; and Andrew Frederick, director of strategic alliances, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement (Photo: Michael Zilz).

MINNETONKA, Minn. — UnitedHealthcare has announced the winners of the second annual UnitedHealthcare Medication Adherence Targeted Intervention Program Challenge benefiting the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation.



The company presented a $90,000 donation to the foundation on behalf of the winning pharmacies at the 16th annual NACDS Foundation Dinner in New York City earlier this month.



UnitedHealthcare created the challenge last year to recognize the pharmacies in its network that have been most successful at helping its Medicare Advantage-Part D plan members take their prescription medications appropriately, thereby helping to enhance their health and well-being.



The company donated $15,000 to the NACDS Foundation on behalf of each of the winning pharmacies — three in the large retail pharmacy chain category, and three in the small retail pharmacy chain and independent community pharmacy category.



The winning pharmacies in the large retail pharmacy chain category are:

•    Giant Eagle

•    Publix

•    fred’s Pharmacies



The winning pharmacies in the small retail pharmacy chain and independent community pharmacy category are:

•    Wegmans, Rochester, N.Y.

•    LI Script, West Babylon, N.Y.

•    Kohll’s Pharmacies, Omaha, Neb.

 

The 2014 UnitedHealthcare Medication Adherence TIP Challenge winners markedly improved medication adherence among a group of UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage-Part D plan members.



Using its analytics, UnitedHealthcare identified members who were at risk for medication nonadherence, and then notified the participating pharmacies of those customers who could benefit from pharmacists’ medication therapy management services. For example, customers with a pattern of not filling prescriptions or picking up refills were flagged for the participating pharmacies. Pharmacists then worked with these customers through one-on-one consultations to help address their individual barriers to medication adherence, such as cost of their medications, memory problems that cause patients to forget to take their medications, or confusion related to the complexity of their medication regimens.



When appropriate, pharmacists also informed their customers’ physicians of opportunities to consider evidence-based therapy protocols that could benefit the customer. For example, pharmacists consulted with physicians when customers were using medications classified as high risk for treatment of seniors to determine if a new prescription for a safer alternative medication would be appropriate.



The pharmacies in each challenge category were ranked based on their customers’ medication adherence rates. The top three pharmacies in each category were recognized as the winners.



“We are grateful for the generous donation from UnitedHealthcare,” stated Kathleen Jaeger, president of NACDS Foundation. “Collaboration between health insurers and pharmacies is critical to improving medication adherence rates, particularly among seniors. Initiatives like the TIP Challenge are a unique and effective way to encourage that collaboration.”



According to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, nearly 75% of adults do not take their medications as prescribed, which limits the drugs’ effectiveness, increases the risk of poor health outcomes and raises the overall cost of care. Medication nonadherence is an especially significant issue among seniors, given that approximately 90% of adults over the age of 60 take at least one prescription medication, and more than a third take five or more prescription drugs.



“Pharmacists often interact with their customers on a weekly and sometimes even a daily basis, making them a critically important part of Medicare beneficiaries’ healthcare team,” stated Steve Nelson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement. “We applaud the winning pharmacies in our Medication Adherence TIP Challenge and are honored to recognize their contributions to helping our members live healthier lives.”