Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Medicare-Paid Naloxone: Trends In Non-Metropolitan And Metropolitan Areas, Chris Delcher, Yue Cheng, Minji Sohn, Jeffery C. Talbert, Patricia R. Freeman

Rural & Underserved Health Research Center Publications

Overview of Key Findings

• Medicare pays for the largest share (> 30%) of naloxone dispensed from retail pharmacies in non-metropolitan areas.
• Medicare-paid dispensing has grown since 2013, but from 2017-2018 dispensing growth in non-metropolitan areas slowed considerably compared to metropolitan areas (42% v 121%, respectively).
• As of 2018, the rate of naloxone dispensing to Medicare enrollees in metropolitan areas was approximately double that in non-metropolitan areas (4.9 v 2.9 per 1,000 enrollees, respectively).

Rural/Urban Disparities In The Utilization Of Health And Behavioral Assessments/Interventions In The Fee-For-Service Medicare Population, Christian Rhudy, Eugene Shin, Jeffery C. Talbert

Rural & Underserved Health Research Center Publications

Overview of Key Findings

• In 2016, rural county residents represented 21.8% of the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare population, but only 1.6% of rural FFS beneficiaries live in a county with local utilization of Health and Behavioral Assessments and Interventions (HBAI) services.
• Utilization of HBAI services in 2016 occurred in 19 (9.7%) rural counties and 176 (90.3%) urban counties.
• Average utilization rates of HBAI services were higher in rural counties than urban counties (0.7% vs. 0.4%).

Rural/Urban Disparities In Utilization Of Diabetes Self-Management Training To The Fee-For-Service Medicare Population, Christian Rhudy, Aric Schadler, Jeffery C. Talbert

Rural & Underserved Health Research Center Publications

Overview of Key Findings

• In 2016, rural fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries represented 21.7% of the population diagnosed with diabetes, but only 2.7% of the population utilizing Diabetes Self-Management Training.
• Utilization of DSMT services in 2016 occurred in 76 rural counties and 309 urban counties.
• Average utilization rates of DSMT services were greater in rural counties than urban counties (5.5% vs. 2.5%).

Rural/Urban Disparities In Utilization Of Medical Nutrition Therapy To The Fee-For-Service Medicare Population, Christian Rhudy, Eugene Shin, Jeffery C. Talbert

Rural & Underserved Health Research Center Publications

Overview of Key Findings

• In 2016, 21.8% of the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare population resided in a rural county, but only 3.7% of enrollees residing in a county with utilization of Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) services were rural county residents.
• Utilization of MNT services in 2016 occurred in 92 rural counties and 388 urban counties.
• Average utilization rates of MNT services were greater in rural counties than urban counties (3.1% vs. 1.9%).

Update: Rural/Urban Disparities In Pneumococcal Vaccine Service Delivery Among The Fee-For-Service Medicare Population, 2012-2015, Joseph C. Vanghelof, Aric Schadler, Patricia R. Freeman, Jeffery C. Talbert

Rural & Underserved Health Research Center Publications

Overview of Key Findings

• Between 2014 and 2015, the number of pneumococcal vaccine services delivered to fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries increased by 380% as a result of uptake of PCV13 vaccine.
• Continued disparities in delivery of pneumococcal vaccine services to FFS Medicare beneficiaries in rural and urban communities are noted, with a 63% higher vaccination rate observed in urban areas.
• The majority of pneumococcal vaccine services delivered to FFS Medicare beneficiaries were provided by primary care providers, although pharmacy providers delivered close to one-fourth (24.2%) of these services.
• Pharmacy providers in rural communities play an increasing role in pneumococcal vaccine …

Rural/Urban Disparities In Pneumococcal Vaccine Service Delivery Among The Fee-For-Service Medicare Population, Jeffery C. Talbert, Aric Schadler, Patricia R. Freeman

Rural & Underserved Health Research Center Publications

Overview of Key Findings

• In 2014, the overall mean vaccination rate in urban areas was 4.66 compared to a mean vaccination rate of 2.81 in rural areas, indicating a 40% lower mean vaccination rate in rural communities.
• The majority of pneumococcal vaccine services delivered to fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries were provided by primary care providers, although pharmacy providers delivered close to one-fourth (22.2%) of these services.
• The proportion of pneumococcal vaccine services delivered by pharmacy providers was significantly greater in rural versus urban counties (29.4% vs. 21.1%).
• Consistent with previous literature, county characteristics positively associated with pneumococcal vaccine service delivery include …

Ambulance Services For Medicare Beneficiaries: State Differences In Usage, 2012-2014, Suzanne Troske, Alison Davis

Rural & Underserved Health Research Center Publications

Ambulance services are at risk of scaling back or dissolving in some places. We analyzed Medicare beneficiaries’ use of ambulance services across the U.S. Improved understanding of how beneficiaries, most of whom are elderly, use these services provides vital information for policymakers who set rules and regulations about access to the services.

Medication Therapy Management: Is It Worth Medicare’S Time?, Jennifer White

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Problem:

Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is a service that a pharmacist can provide to any of their patients, but mostly to those who are either high risk patients for adverse events or those who are new to chronic medication therapy. As Medicare Part D has begun to cover MTM services, more and more pharmacists and other clinicians are becoming providers of MTM.

The intent of MTM is to decrease adverse events and healthcare costs to both the patient and the third party payer. In realizing the benefits of MTM, it is important to assess these outcomes to see if clinical, …