Pharmacy Utilization: A Study to Predict BAMC Outpatient Pharmacy Usage by Dual-Eligible Military Retiree/Medicare-Eligible Beneficiaries Resulting From Implementation of the TRICARE Senior Pharmacy Program (TSRx)

摘要

On April 1, 2001 a new outpatient pharmacy benefit called the TRICARE Senior Pharmacy Program (TSRx) was extended to all Medicare part B eligible age 65 and over non-TRICARE Senior Prime military healthcare system authorized beneficiaries. The problem that confronted Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) was the lack of knowledge about the effect that the TSRx program might have on utilization of the hospital s outpatient pharmacies. A survey (Appendix C) of these beneficiaries was conducted to predict the impact of the TSRx program. The survey revealed that these beneficiaries would reduce their usage of BAM coutpatient pharmacies by 12% to 13%. Eighty seven percent will continue to get their refill prescriptions and 88% their new prescriptions at BAMC. Usage of the mail order, TRICARE network retail, and TRICARE non-network retail pharmacies amounted to 4%, 8%, and 1% respectively for refill, and 0%, 11%, and 1% respectively for new fill prescriptions. Beneficiaries who decided to use one of the new pharmacy venues to get refill prescriptions are under utilizing the mail order option. Since this is the most cost effective new option for both the beneficiary and the government BAMC should develop a marketing program to encourage them to use the mail order option.