One-year outcomes of an integrated multiple sclerosis disease management program

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with high total health care cost, the majority of which is attributable to medications. Patients with MS are less likely to experience relapses, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations when they are adherent to disease-modifying treatments. Disease management programs are hypothesized to improve medication adherence thereby improving clinical and economic outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and economic effects of a specialty pharmacy and chronic disease management program for patients with MS from a health plan perspective. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis using prescription drug claims, medical claims, and electronic medical record information (2013-2015) 1 year before and after enrollment in the disease management program for members with 24 months of continuous health plan coverage. Medication adherence was calculated using proportion of days covered (PDC). Relapse rate was defined as an MS outpatient visit associated with a corticosteroid dispense within 7 days of the visit or an MS hospitalization. Disease progression was assessed using the Modified Expanded Disability Status Scale (mEDSS). Resource use included outpatient visits, ED visits, and hospitalizations. Cost information was collected as health plan-paid amount and was reported in 2013 U.S. dollars. RESULTS: The analysis included 377 patients (mean age 55 years, 76.4% female). After enrollment in the program, 78.7% of the study group had a PDC of ≥ 0.80 compared with 70.0% before enrollment (P < 0.001). There was no difference in MS relapse rate (0.25 after vs. 0.45 before, P = 0.11) or mEDSS score (3.77 after vs. 3.76 before, P = 0.19). Health care resource utilization was minimal and did not change significantly throughout the study period: mean outpatient visits (13.09 after vs. 13.78 before, P = 0.69); mean ED visits (0.18 after vs. 0.16 before, P = 0.60); and mean hospitalizations (0.12 after vs. 0.12 before, P = 1.00). This nonsignificant finding remained when the analysis was limited to MS-related visits only. Average annual health plan spend per patient on MS medications significantly increased ($55,835 after vs. $40,883 before, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Specialty pharmacy and chronic disease management for patients with MS can increase the proportion of patients adherent to medication. The increase in health plan spend on MS medications is not offset by savings in health care resource utilization.