Prescription Solutions' MS DTM program wins URAC Best Practices Platinum Award

Oct 11 2010

Prescription Solutions, a leading pharmacy benefits management (PBM) organization and a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company, received a platinum award in the URAC Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection Awards. Prescription Solutions was recognized for its Multiple Sclerosis Disease Therapy Management (MS DTM) program, which empowers patients through education and support to successfully attain skills in self-managing their symptoms and medication therapy for their chronic condition.

“Because of the recurring, disabling and potentially progressive nature of the disease, outreach efforts like our MS DTM program are crucial for patients with MS”

At the URAC annual conference in Chicago last week, the award finalists presented their model programs to attendees so these best practices can be duplicated in communities across the country. Prescriptions Solutions was represented at the conference by Brian Solow, M.D., vice-president, senior medical director for Clinical Services.

"Because of the recurring, disabling and potentially progressive nature of the disease, outreach efforts like our MS DTM program are crucial for patients with MS," said Joseph Addiego, M.D., chief medical officer, Prescription Solutions. "Our nurses and pharmacists work closely with patients to help them with symptom management, medication adherence and a health-promoting lifestyle."

The URAC awards are designed to recognize innovative leadership and successful programs in consumer-focused health care management. Judging was conducted by a distinguished, 28-member panel that included the best and most widely recognized experts in program evaluation, care coordination, health information technology, employer and purchaser decision making, and patient safety. Entries were reviewed and scored by the judges based on objective criteria.

The MS DTM program, the only PBM program to win a Platinum Award, was recognized for its ability to measurably demonstrate an impact on consumer empowerment and protection, specifically in the consumer decision-making category, and its potential for widespread implementation by other organizations.

MS DTM program goals include:

• increasing patients' knowledge of their medical condition, treatment options and overall management of their health;
• maximizing therapeutic outcomes by promoting medication adherence and persistence and reducing the risk of side effects;
• enhancing patients' quality of life.

The Prescription Solutions MS/DTM program was evaluated in a seven-month study of 283 patients with MS. In addition to highly significant patient satisfaction and acceptance, the study found increased adherence to injectable MS medications that reduced relapses by 33.6 percent. This relapse reduction is estimated to potentially save $612 per patient participating in the DTM program.

A complete list of Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection Award winners may be found at www.urac.org.

SOURCE Prescription Solutions