Encouraging generic substitutes and having restrictive formularies are strategies often used by plan sponsors to combat the ever-rising cost of prescription drugs. But despite these efforts, plan sponsors are still struggling to keep plans affordable. Some experts suggest looking beyond drug plan guidelines and administration to find cost-containment solutions. At the recent Solutions in Drug Plan Management Conference, co-hosted by Benefits Canada and Pharmacy Post, one pharmacist pointed to the government-sponsored Meds Check program for possible relief.

Meds Check was launched in April 2007 by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, in conjunction with the Ontario Pharmacy Council and the Ontario Pharmacists’ Association. The program is intended to promote better health through medication compliance. It also gives people the opportunity to have an annual medication review with a pharmacist to ensure that they are taking their prescription and over-the-counter medications properly, including herbals. “It’s a very holistic view of that person’s medication profile in the context of their health conditions,” said Rosemarie Patodia, pharmacist and manager, pharmacy marketing and professional services, with Shoppers Drug Mart. The appointment takes approximately 30 minutes and is free for those with more than three chronic prescriptions and who are covered by OHIP. “It’s an untapped resource,” said Patodia.

Promoting Meds Check in the workplace is in the best interest of employers. As Patodia explained, if employees are using their medications properly, they’re more likely to avoid acute illness, time off work, frequent doctor visits and additional drug costs for a condition that could have been prevented by taking their medications correctly. She added that because many people have to rely on clinics and multiple doctors, the onus is on the individual to remember what to take and when—not an easy task when several medications are involved. “You’d be surprised how many people don’t know why they’re on a particular medication,” Patodia said.

During a Meds Check appointment, the pharmacist will explain why the person is taking each prescription, how he or she should be taking it and what the results of taking the medication correctly should be. The pharmacist will also ensure that the medications don’t interact. “We always check for interactions when we fill prescriptions, but not every patient gets all of their prescriptions at the same pharmacy,” Patodia explained.

During one medication review, Patodia found that a woman was taking two different medications to treat insomnia and anxiety, although both drugs were indicated to treat both conditions. In another review, a man with a chronic lung condition was using numerous inhalers. “He was using two inhalers of the same class of drug, which are not typically taken together for that condition,” she said. “I was also able to glean from the discussion that his inhaler technique wasn’t quite right.”

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In both cases, Patodia consulted the physicians to inquire about the duplicate drugs. She also gave both patients lists of their medications, explaining what each drug was for and how it should be taken.

“We know [medication adherence] is a big issue, particularly with people who have chronic diseases and conditions such as hypertension and high cholesterol where people don’t have symptoms,” Patodia said. She added that something as simple as teaching someone about hypertension and how to manage his or her blood pressure, in addition to taking his or her medications, can help to prevent a stroke. “Optimizing medication use can prevent devastating events that can have significant [health and financial] costs associated with them.”

April Scott-Clarke is assistant editor of Benefits Canada. april.scottclarke@rci.rogers.com

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© Copyright 2008 Rogers Publishing Ltd. This article first appeared in the August 2008 edition of BENEFITS CANADA magazine.