Show I Prescription Program Improves Healthcare Utah Department of Health HealthA A Utah Department o oj of Health program is making a J difference for wit with h mental health problems Over the past 12 months th the e ls l's Behavioral Pharmacy Management Program has s reviewed Medicaid mental health pharmacy claims for fo r drugs to treat mental health healt h conditions has hs s worked wit with hundreds of providers each month an and d has decreased unnecessary mental health prescriptions for both adults and children reviews prescription tion patterns for more than different drugs to make sure they are used When used incorrectly incorrect incorrect- ly mental health medications medications medications medica medica- can lead to dangerous drug interactions and uncontrolled mental health 1 H 1 In monitoring Medicaid d pharmacy claims p looks for doses that are too high or too low similar drugs prescribed for a patient by more than one doctor and forgotten refills When any of these issues are found selected health healthcare healthcare healthcare care providers are sent a patient report and educational educational educational materials The healthcare health healthcare healthcare care providers also receive regular bulletins about special special special cial topics topics' related to prescription prescription pre pre- prescription drugs such as mental health medication Providers who j continue to experience the same same saine issues sues oVer o r time ar are offered a peer consultation to discuss prescribing tices We are please that th the e notifies providers provider s when patients have no not t filled their prescriptions says Mack Mac Gift Executive Director Mental Health Healt h Association in Utah This allows providers to work with their patients to resolve e any problems with the prescription prescription pre pre- prescription pre pre- and ensure that the th e patients receive the care they need The reports positive positive positive tive changes are resulting from Though overall overall over over- all treatment for mental health has been increasing 5 percent fewer mental health prescriptions have been written for Medicaid patients who have been reached by the program By reducing unneeded prescription tion drugs expects to save money Each month for the past t 12 months the program m reached more than providers who see about roro patients Utah children children chil- chil dren are also getting help About 70 of the providers reached each month are treating children While fewer mental health drugs have been prescribed is working to ensure that patients receive the medication they need Appropriate prescription drug use is important to the quality of care Medicaid enrollees receive says Julie Olson Director Bureau of Managed HealthCare Health HealthCare HealthCare Care We are proud to see the program is isi J vor working k Ing JJ i r ri 1 J II I I Utah Utah- providers providers' Fare Vare responding to with I enthusiasm Providers are using the information the they y See Health continued on page 10 Health continued from page 5 get from the program to improve care and reduce costs says Michael Stevens MD M.D. Director of Psychopharmacology Research Valley Mental Health Providers receive information specific to o their patients allowing allowing allowing allow allow- ing them to make the best possible possible possible ble clinical decisions is a year two-year project that began in 2004 Partners include Comprehensive NeuroScience Inc a national 1 clinical best practices company and the Mental Health Association in Utah All funding funding fund fund- ing for the project is provided by Eli Lilly and Company in an effort to improve patient care The Utah Medicaid program administered by the covers families children pregnant pregnant preg preg- nant women aged blind and disabled people To qualify non-financial non criteria must be met as well as income and asset criteria A similar prescription review is done for all M Medicaid clients who take more than 7 prescriptions per month |