Pharmacist inquiries to doctors reduced opioid prescriptions

Pharmacist intervention associated with reduced use and cost of controlled substances among high risk users

Pharmacists flagged the files of Medicare members with high controlled substance (CS) scores. A CS score combines a weighted mix of :
1) volume of controlled substance claims,
2) number of prescribers and pharmacies, and
3) rate of utilization of controlled substances.

Those members’ doctors were contacted to verify if the CS therapy was still appropriate or if changes were needed. Of the members who met study criteria, half had doctor-directed changes to therapy. This decreased members’ average CS scores by 40%.

Outcomes of an opioid overutilization pharmacist consultation program (Spring 2014)

About Prime Therapeutics

Prime Therapeutics LLC (Prime) is a diversified pharmacy solutions organization serving health plans, employers and government programs. Prime is collectively owned by 19 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, subsidiaries or affiliates of those plans. Magellan Rx Management LLC, a Prime Therapeutics LLC Company, is a pioneer in specialty and medical drug management and a leader in serving public sector state government programs. Together Prime and Magellan Rx provide a wide range of clients with solutions that bridge the distance between medical and pharmacy management. For more information visit primetherapeutics.com and magellanrx.com or follow us on X (Twitter) at @Prime_PBM and @Magellan_Rx.

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