Prime Therapeutics Study Finds Members Using its Specialty Pharmacy More Likely to Stay on Medicines Than Those Filling Prescriptions at Retail Pharmacies

Coordinating Benefits, Customizing Care Management Programs and Providing Member Support Associated with Improved Adherence to Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Autoimmune, and Oral Oncology Drugs

News provided by

Prime Therapeutics LLC

Apr 03, 2014, 09:00 ET

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Receiving specialty drugs through Prime Therapeutics Specialty Pharmacy LLC rather than a retail pharmacy store is associated with improved adherence to these medicines, according to a new study by Prime Therapeutics LLC (Prime). The study, which compares how well members stay on their specialty prescriptions for three diseases or conditions, will be presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) 26th Annual Meeting & Expo in Tampa, Fla.

Researchers from Prime reviewed claims from more than 13 million commercially insured members to identify those taking a multiple sclerosis (MS), autoimmune, or oral cancer specialty drug. The analysis compared the proportion of days covered (PDC) among continuously enrolled members with at least two specialty drug claims from January 1 through June 30, 2013, to find out whether members were continuing on their medicine over time.

Researchers found that in all three medication categories, members using Prime Therapeutics Specialty Pharmacy had a significantly higher PDC than those using a retail pharmacy. For those taking an MS drug, PDC was 3 percentage points higher through Prime Therapeutics Specialty Pharmacy as compared to retail (77.5 percent versus 74.5 percent). And, PDC was 5.8 percentage points higher for those taking an autoimmune medication (69.2 percent versus 63.4 percent) and 6.4 percentage points higher for those taking an oral cancer medication (75.9 percent versus 69.5 percent).

"The greater number of days covered suggests our members were better able to remain on their medicines when they received them through Prime Therapeutics Specialty Pharmacy than when they went through a retail pharmacy," said Pat Gleason, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, director of health outcomes for Prime. "It also appears that providing members with services beyond what they receive at retail – such as benefits coordination, customized care, and payment assistance – is important to helping people with complex diseases and chronic conditions stay on their medicines."

About Prime Therapeutics
Prime Therapeutics LLC (Prime) helps people get the medicine they need to feel better and live well. Prime manages pharmacy benefits for health plans, employers, and government programs including Medicare and Medicaid. The company processes claims and delivers medicine to members, offering clinical services for people with complex medical conditions. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., Prime serves nearly 25 million people. It is collectively owned by 13 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, subsidiaries or affiliates of those plans. Prime has been recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of "healthcare's hottest companies for 2013." For more information, visit www.primetherapeutics.com or follow @Prime_PBM on Twitter.

About Prime Therapeutics Specialty Pharmacy
Prime Therapeutics Specialty Pharmacy LLC is dedicated to making it easier for members to obtain specialty medicines and manage complex conditions. The company offers a full suite of specialty pharmacy services, from care management to insurance billing to delivery of specialty medicines. Based in Orlando, Fla., Prime Therapeutics Specialty Pharmacy LLC is wholly owned by Prime Therapeutics LLC. For more information, visit www.primetherapeutics.com/specialty or follow @Prime_PBM on Twitter.

SOURCE Prime Therapeutics LLC