Medication Adherence

Let's work together to improve the health outcomes of our members

One of AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania's goals is an effort to increase our members' medication adherence. According to a December 2012 report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, "non-adherence has been estimated to cost the U.S. health care system between $100 billion and $289 billion annually," and to be the cause for at least 10 percent  of all hospitalizations.

We are exploring numerous ways to impact medication non-adherence including member outreach and education, as well as collaboration and support with our providers. Our Every Day Matters campaign   aim is to educate members about the benefits of taking their daily medications and steps they can take  to maintain adherence.

We have put tools and programs put in place to help providers identify members who are struggling to adhere to your care plan. Among these tools are the NaviNet Care Gap Alerts  and the Rapid Response and Outreach Team (RROT). The RROT can be reached directly at 1-877-693-8271. For more information, please see visit the resources section of this page.

We are targeting this effort to four classes of medications typically associated with chronic diseases:

  • Asthma Controllers
  • Oral hypoglycemic
  • Antihypertensives
  • Statins

The American College of Preventative Medicine recommends this SIMPLE technique to help foster medication adherence:

  • S - Simplify the regimen
    • Adjust timing, frequency, amount and dosage
    • Match regimen to patient's activities of daily living
  • I  - Impart knowledge
    • Provide all prescription instructions clearly in writing and verbally
  • M  - Modify patient beliefs and  behavior
    • Have patients restate the positive benefits of taking their medications
    • Address fears and concerns
  • P - Provide communication and trust
    • Use plain language
    • Provider emotional support
  • L - Leave the bias
    • Understand health literacy and how it affects outcomes
  • E  - Evaluate adherence
    • Ask about adherence behavior at every visit
    • Periodically review patient's medication containers, noting renewal dates
Providers