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Healthcare Provider Utilization And Patient Outcomes: The Call For Enhanced Coordinated Care For Medicare Beneficiaries, Yvonne Mai, Rajul A. Patel, Suzanne M. Galal, Sian M. Carr-Lopez, Joseph A. Woelfel

School of Pharmacy Faculty Presentations

Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and other non-physician health care providers (dentists, optometrists, etc.) has steadily increased in the United States; however, the associated outcomes reported in the Medicare population is limited.

Objective: To evaluate the utilization of different healthcare providers by Medicare beneficiaries and assess resultant patient outcomes.

Methods: Fourteen outreach events targeting Medicare beneficiaries were conducted throughout Northern/Central California during the 2014 open enrollment period. Trained student pharmacists (working under licensed pharmacist supervision) provided beneficiaries with comprehensive medication therapy management (MTM) services. During each intervention, demographic, quality-of-life, health behavior, and health provider/service utilization data …