Optimizing Medication Access for Hunterdon County Residents in Need

1
Optimizing Medication Access for Hunterdon County
Residents in Need
2
Agenda

• Introduction
• History
• Vision and Mission
• Services
• Results
• Funding
• Conclusions

3
Background

• 1 in 7 US Families has problems paying medical
  bills
• 25 of patients with big medical bills do not
  seek care they need
• 33 do not fill their prescriptions
• 1.06 million NJ residents are uninsured (15 of
  the population)
• 3027 Hunterdon County residents live below the
  poverty level
• In 2004 6.6 million patients received over 4
  billion in free medicine from pharmaceutical
  companies

The Need
Sources Families USA, November 2003 Rising
Health-Care Costs Hit Home. WSJ June 30,
2004 www.pparx..org
4
How did HCMAP begin?
Personal story
5
Diverse expertise and experience
Rev. Mark Summer, PhD, Zion Lutheran Church Mark
Peters, PharmD, Zion Lutheran Church Claire
Caruana, RPh, Hunterdon Regional Pharmacy Carmel
Gettings, St. Magdalen DePazzi Catholic Church
Rev. Cathy Gumpert, Readington Reformed
Church Karen Kallens, RN, HCMAP Nurse
Educator Carol Keating, Hunterdon County Division
of Senior Services Marianne McEvoy RN, Hunterdon
County Department of Health, Public Health
Nursing Education Angela Nicodemus, Zion
Lutheran Church Rosa Rinaldi, St. Magdalen
DePazzi Catholic Church Mary Ann Rodenberger,
Hunterdon County Division of Senior Services
Rev. David Ruisard, Rockaway Reformed
Church Terry Shlimbaum, MD, Medical Director,
Phillips Barber and Del Val Family Heath
Centers Susanne Struebing Ed.D.,
Psychologist Arlene Suydam RN, St. Paul Lutheran
Church Carolyn Swithers RN, HMC, Diabetes Health
Ctr, St. Paul Lutheran Church Michael Wolf,
R.Ph., PharmD, PhD, Wald Drugs Mary Zetterstrom
RN, Hunterdon County Department of Health, Public
Health Nursing Education, and St. John the
Evangelist Catholic Church
6
Partners from all areas of the Hunterdon County
community

• Faith Organizations
• Church of the Holy Spirit
• Cokesbury United Methodist
• Flemington Jewish Community Center
• Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
• Lebanon Reformed Church
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
• Quakertown United Methodist Church
• Readington Reformed Church
• Rockaway Reformed Church
• Round Valley United Methodist Church
• St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
• Catholic Community of St. John Neumann
• St Magdalen DePazzi Catholic Church
• St. Paul Lutheran Church
• Zion Lutheran Church

• Community Organizations Businesses
• Hunterdon Board of Chosen Freeholders
• Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce
• Hunterdon County Office on Aging
• Hunterdon County Department of Health
• Hunterdon County Department of Social Services
• Hunterdon Healthcare System
• Hunterdon Medical Center Foundation
• Hunterdon Regional Pharmacy Network
• Dilts Koester
• Institute for Medication Access and Compliance
  (IMAAC)

7
Vision and Mission

• Vision Statement
• Improving health in our community
• Mission Statement
• Connecting concerned individuals,
  congregations, businesses, healthcare services
  and governmental organizations to increase
  awareness and access to affordable prescription
  medicine for Hunterdon County residents in need.

8
HCMAP History
Medication Access Champions trained
Nurse Educator hired
Covered the Uninsured Event (Mike Ferguson)
Demo Project Developed
Initial Seed Money Raised
Baseball Game Fundraisers
Initial Patient Enrollment
Demonstration Phase
Sustainability Phase
9
Nurse educator focuses on patient care for
underserved residents ..

• Nurse Educator
• Provides access to prescription medicine
• Assesses and educates patients on health status
  and disease/conditions
• Educates patients on the safe and correct use of
  medications, diet, and exercise
• Measures health and economic outcomes

while broader HCMAP team focuses on community
awareness, education, outreach, networking, and
fundraising
10
Nurse educator is point for other assistance
programs too

• Medicare Part D

Diabetes Foundation
Emergency medication assistance
11
Positive patient and community impact realized in
Hunterdon County

Patient Health Impact
Economic Impact
Social Impact

• Over 263,000 of free medicine provided
• Over 17,000 raised by the community in 2005
• 102,000 raised as initial seed money

• Over 248 patients helped
• 100 Active patients
• Over 1000 community volunteer hours donated
• Medication Option Flashcard widely distributed to
  HCPs
• Trained medication access champions
• 2005 Community Service Award

• Health outcome study demonstrated
• Lower total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides
• Lower HbA1C
• Improved blood pressure control
• Fewer asthma attacks

12
Patient Testimonial
They saved my life. I was really taking a lot
of medicine (9 pills in the morning and seven at
night). Its a lot of money. I was putting them
on my charge and I couldnt keep up with it. They
saved me. Judith Reade-Bayram Partnership is
Helping People Obtain Medicine. Hunterdon County
Democrat February 16, 2006
13
Wide Diversity of Sponsors
American Heart Association AstraZeneca Bristol-Mye
rs Squibb Cingular Wireless elDesigns HealthQuest
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ Hunterdon
Medical Center Hunterdon Medical Center
Foundation IMAAC Insight Therapeutics, Inc
MacPherson Automation Products and Systems
Merck Patriot Media Philips Barber Hospital
Foundation Shop Rite of Hunterdon County,
Inc. Somerset Patriots Baseball Club The Medicine
Information Institute Thrivent Financial United
Way Ventiv Commercial Services Wald Drugs
14
Key Learnings

• Improved patient/consumer outreach when key
  community stakeholders involved
• Social (Faith organizations can be real catalysts
  and drivers)
• Business
• Government
• Simplify by integrating into existing community
  infrastructure and services
• Centralized access to nurse educator appears to
  improve follow-up and medication compliance
• Centralized database/website to access forms and
  track patients
• Persistency (never give up!) by key champions

15
Conclusions

• Partnership has successfully brought together key
  community stakeholders
• Program has improved patient care for the under
  and uninsured
• Program has a positive social and economic impact
  in the community

16
The Future
Share experience with other NJ Communities to
help more patients
17
He who has health has hope, and he who has
hope has everything.AnonymousThank You!
18
Key Contacts

• Prescription Medication Assistance
• Karen Kallens, RN
• 908-788-6572
• To learn more about the program, become a
  partner, make a donation, or volunteer
• Mark Peters, PharmD
• 908-268-1976
• Pastor Mark Summer, PhD
• 908-439-2040

19
Prescription Medication Flashcard offers quick
reference for patients and healthcare
professionals

• Medication Options Flashcard
• Key programs by age and income
• Contact information