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Utilization and costs of medications associated with CKD mineral and bone disorder in dialysis patients enrolled in Medicare Part D.

ABSTRACT: Information is limited regarding utilization patterns and costs for chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) medications in Medicare Part D-enrolled dialysis patients.Retrospective cohort study.Annual cohorts of dialysis patients, 2007-2010.Cohort year, low-income subsidy status, and dialysis provider.Utilization and costs of prescription phosphate binders, oral and intravenous vitamin D analogues, and cinacalcet.Using logistic regression, we calculated adjusted odds of medication use for low-income subsidy versus non-low-income subsidy patients and for patients from various dialysis organizations, and we report per-member-per-month and average out-of-pocket costs.Phosphate binders (?83%) and intravenous vitamin D (77.5%-79.3%) were the most commonly used CKD-MBD medications in 2007 through 2010. The adjusted odds of prescription phosphate-binder, intravenous vitamin D, and cinacalcet use were significantly higher for low-income subsidy than for non-low-income subsidy patients. Total Part D versus CKD-MBD Part D medication costs increased 22% versus 36% from 2007 to 2010. For Part D-enrolled dialysis patients, CKD-MBD medications represented ?50% of overall net Part D costs in 2010.Inability to describe utilization and costs of calcium carbonate, an over-the-counter agent not covered under Medicare Part D; inability to reliably identify prescriptions filled through a non-Part D reimbursement or payment mechanism; findings may not apply to dialysis patients without Medicare Part D benefits or with Medicare Advantage plans, or to pediatric dialysis patients; could identify only prescription drugs dispensed in the outpatient setting; inability to adjust for MBD laboratory values.Part D net costs for CKD-MBD medications increased at a faster rate than costs for all Part D medications in dialysis patients despite relatively stable use within medication classes. In a bundled environment, there may be incentives to shift to generic phosphate binders and reduce cinacalcet use.

SUBMITTER: Yusuf AA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4209315 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Utilization and costs of medications associated with CKD mineral and bone disorder in dialysis patients enrolled in Medicare Part D.

Yusuf Akeem A AA Howell Benjamin L BL Powers Christopher A CA St Peter Wendy L WL

American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation 20140513 5

<h4>Background</h4>Information is limited regarding utilization patterns and costs for chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) medications in Medicare Part D-enrolled dialysis patients.<h4>Study design</h4>Retrospective cohort study.<h4>Setting & participants</h4>Annual cohorts of dialysis patients, 2007-2010.<h4>Predictors</h4>Cohort year, low-income subsidy status, and dialysis provider.<h4>Outcomes</h4>Utilization and costs of prescription phosphate binders, oral and intrav ...[more]

PMID: 24833203

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Project description:PURPOSE:To quantify costs of eye care providers' Medicare Part D prescribing patterns for ophthalmic medications and to estimate the potential savings of generic or therapeutic drug substitutions and price negotiation. DESIGN:Retrospective cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS:Eye care providers prescribing medications through Medicare Part D in 2013. METHODS:Medicare Part D 2013 prescriber public use file and summary file were used to calculate medication costs by physician specialty and drug. Savings from generic or therapeutic drug substitutions were estimated for brand drugs. The potential savings from price negotiation was estimated using drug prices negotiated by the United States Veterans Administration (USVA). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Total cost of brand and generic medications prescribed by eye care providers. RESULTS:Eye care providers accounted for $2.4 billion in total Medicare part D prescription drug costs and generated the highest percentage of brand name medication claims compared with all other providers. Brand medications accounted for a significantly higher proportion of monthly supplies by volume, and therefore, also by total cost for eye care providers compared with all other providers (38% vs. 23% by volume, P < 0.001; 79% vs. 56% by total cost, P < 0.001). The total cost attributable to eye care providers is driven by glaucoma medications, accounting for $1.2 billion (54% of total cost; 72% of total volume). The second costliest category, dry eye medications, was attributable mostly to a single medication, cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion (Restasis, Allergan, Irvine, CA), which has no generic alternative, accounting for $371 million (17% of total cost; 4% of total volume). If generic medications were substituted for brand medications when available, $148 million would be saved (7% savings); if generic and therapeutic substitutions were made, $882 million would be saved (42% savings). If Medicare negotiated the prices for ophthalmic medications at USVA rates, $1.09 billion would be saved (53% savings). CONCLUSIONS:Eye care providers prescribe more brand medications by volume than any other provider group. Efforts to reduce prescription expenditures by eye care providers should focus on increasing the use of generic medications, primarily through therapeutic substitutions. Policy changes enabling Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices could decrease costs to Medicare.

Project description:BackgroundCoronary stenting in patients on dialysis has increased by nearly 50% over the past decade, despite heightened risks of associated stent thrombosis and bleeding relative to the general population. We examined clopidogrel, prasugrel or ticlopidine use after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting in patients on dialysis. We conducted 3-, 6-, and 12-month landmark analyses to test the hypothesis that thienopyridine discontinuation prior to those time points would be associated with higher risks of death, myocardial infarction, or repeat revascularization, and a lower risk of major bleeding episodes compared with continued thienopyridine use.Methods and resultsUsing the US Renal Data System, we identified 8458 patients on dialysis with Medicare Parts A+B+D undergoing PCI with stenting between July 2007 and December 2010. Ninety-nine percent of all thienopyridine prescriptions were for clopidogrel. At 3 months, 82% of patients who received drug-eluting stents (DES) had evidence of thienopyridine use. These proportions fell to 62% and 40% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. In patients who received a bare-metal stent (BMS), 70%, 34%, and 26% of patients had evidence of thienopyridine use at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. In patients who received a DES, there was a suggestion of higher risks of death or myocardial infarction associated with thienopyridine discontinuation in the 3-, 6-, and 12-months landmark analyses, but no higher risk of major bleeding episodes. In patients who received a BMS, there were no differences in death or cardiovascular events, and possibly lower risk of major bleeding with thienopyridine discontinuation in the 3- and 6-month landmark analyses.ConclusionsThe majority of patients on dialysis who undergo PCI discontinue thienopyridines before 1 year regardless of stent type. While not definitive, these data suggest that longer-term thienopyridine use may be of benefit to patients on dialysis who undergo PCI with DES.

Project description:Background and objectivesUse of bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is controversial for diagnosing bone loss in CKD patients on dialysis. The alternative quantitative computed tomography (QCT) is expensive and requires high radiation exposure. This study compared the two techniques and evaluated serum biochemical parameters for prediction of bone loss.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsThis prospective study enrolled patients from dialysis centers throughout Kentucky. BMD of the spine and hip was measured at baseline and after 1 year by DXA and QCT. Customary and novel serum biochemical parameters were obtained at the same times, including calcium, phosphorus, whole and intact parathyroid hormone, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b, Dickkopf-1, fibroblast growth factor, and sclerostin. Rates of detection of osteoporosis by DXA and QCT were compared. Correlations were calculated between baseline biochemical parameters and BMD at baseline and changes over 1 year. Multivariable regression was performed to adjust for age, sex, body mass index, and race.ResultsEighty-one patients completed the study (mean age=52.6 ± 12.3 years, 56% men, 53% African American, and median dialysis vintage=41 months). At baseline, QCT and DXA of the spine identified similar rates of osteoporosis (13.6% and 13.6%), but at the hip, DXA identified more osteoporosis (22.2% versus 13.6%). At any site and by either method, 33.3% of the patients were osteoporotic. Baseline BMD correlated with sclerostin, intact parathyroid hormone, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b, and fibroblast growth factor. At 1 year, hip QCT identified a higher number of patients experiencing bone loss (51.3%) than DXA (38.5%). After multivariable adjustment, baseline sclerostin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b predicted bone loss measured by QCT of the hip; procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide predicted cortical spine bone gain by QCT.ConclusionsQCT identified prospectively more bone loss at the hip than DXA. The baseline serum biochemical parameters sclerostin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b were noninvasive independent predictors of bone loss in CKD patients on dialysis.

Project description:Background/objectivesTo examine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) prescribing and its association with healthcare utilization and related expenditures utilizing nationally representative data from the United States.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingThe 2011-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS).ParticipantsCommunity-dwelling sample of U.S. adults aged 65 and older during the first round of each MEPS cycle.MeasurementsA qualified definition operationalized from the 2019 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria® was used to estimate the prevalence of PIM prescribing over the study period. Negative binomial models were assembled to examine associations between PIM exposure and healthcare utilization including hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, and outpatient provider visits. Generalized linear models with the log link function and gamma distribution were used to analyze associations between PIM exposure and healthcare expenditures. Sensitivity analyses were conducted utilizing inverse probability treatment weighting using propensity scores for being prescribed a PIM.ResultsThe period prevalence of PIM prescribing over the 5-year sample was 34.4%. PIM prescribing was positively associated with hospitalizations (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] = 1.17; 95 confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-1.26; P < .001), ED visits (aIRR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.17-1.35; P < .001), and outpatient provider visits (aIRR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.14-1.21; P < .001). PIM exposure was associated with higher marginal costs within outpatient visits ($116; 95% CI = $105-$243; P < .001), prescription medications ($128; 95% CI = $72-$199; P < .001), and total healthcare expenditures ($458; 95% CI = $295-$664; P < .001). Similar results were found in our propensity score analyses.ConclusionPIMs continue to be prescribed at a high rate among older adults in the United States. Our results suggest that receipt of PIMs is associated with higher rates of healthcare utilization and increased costs across the healthcare continuum. Further work is needed to implement evidence-based deprescribing interventions that may in turn reduce unnecessary healthcare utilization.

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Utilization and costs of medications associated with CKD mineral and bone disorder in dialysis patients enrolled in Medicare Part D.

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Utilization and costs of medications associated with CKD mineral and bone disorder in dialysis patients enrolled in Medicare Part D.

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