Medi-Cal Members Reduce Potential for Medication Error with Innovative Program
04 Février 2010 - 7:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Anthem Blue Cross introduces DailyMed(TM) Pharmacy System - a
California "first" WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ --
Imagine having to face the daily struggle of taking six or more
different medications a day to manage a chronic health condition;
add to this the worry of missing or taking a dose incorrectly. For
Anthem Blue Cross (Anthem) Medi-Cal members, that daily struggle
will now be simplified to help increase medication adherence and
reduce medication errors. Anthem will now offer Medi-Cal members
the opportunity to enroll in the DailyMed(TM) Pharmacy program.
This new program, a first in California, eliminates the guesswork
when taking complex or multiple prescriptions by providing members
with a 30-day supply of their medications, delivered to their
homes, in pre-sorted packets marked with the day, date and time the
medications should be taken. In addition, because individuals who
take more medications can find it difficult to adhere to their
medication regimens, members will benefit from a team of DailyMed
pharmacists who will provide coordinated care and phone
consultations to closely monitor the safety, efficacy and
compliance of their medication therapy. "For many of our members,
their medication regimens are critical to help stay healthy and
enjoy a better quality of life, yet we know some regimens can be
very complex and hard to understand, and that can lead to missing
doses or even misusing medications," said Kevin Hayden, president
of Anthem's State Sponsored Business. "It is well-documented that
better adherence to treatment guidelines and medication compliance
keeps members healthier for a much longer period of time, while
reducing hospitalizations and other health care related costs. This
program has the potential to significantly change the way our
members approach their medication therapy." The DailyMed Pharmacy
program will also complement and enhance a variety of disease
management programs already offered by Anthem for Medi-Cal members
to help manage an array of health conditions, including asthma and
diabetes. Recent data indicates that medication-related problems
cost our health care system $177.4 billion a year. Hayden added,
"With California facing a serious budget deficit and an increased
need for Medi-Cal spending, we are providing solutions that help to
achieve higher quality standards and manage the cost of care for
Medi-Cal members, while helping to improve their health outcomes."
Anthem is offering DailyMed through an agreement with Arcadia
HealthCare under its proprietary DailyMed program. "Our agreement
with Anthem Blue Cross is an important validation of DailyMed and
our unique model of helping patients and payers alike manage their
prescriptions correctly, safely and more affordably," said Marvin
R. Richardson, president and CEO of Arcadia. "We are excited to
introduce DailyMed to Anthem's Medi-Cal members and believe the
result will be to help improve member care and lower health care
costs by more effectively managing chronic medication utilization
and reducing unnecessary hospitalizations for their members." The
DailyMed program is free to Anthem Blue Cross Medi-Cal members.
Members can call (866) 720-9855 to receive more information and
enroll in the program. About Anthem Blue Cross Anthem Blue Cross is
the trade name of Blue Cross of California. Anthem Blue Cross and
Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company are independent
licensees of the Blue Cross Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered
trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross names
and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Association.
About Arcadia HealthCare Arcadia HealthCare is a service mark of
Arcadia Resources, Inc. (NYSE Amex: KAD), and is a leading provider
of home care, medical staffing and pharmacy services under its
proprietary DailyMed program. The Company, headquartered in
Indianapolis, Indiana, has 65 locations in 20 states. Arcadia
HealthCare's comprehensive solutions and business strategies
support the Company's vision of "Keeping People at Home and
Healthier Longer." DailyMed(TM) Pharmacy dispenses a monthly cycle
of a patient's prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and
vitamins, and organizes them into pre-sorted packets clearly marked
with the date and time the medications should be taken. In the
dispensing process, a DailyMed pharmacist reviews each patient's
medication profile and utilizes state-of-the-art medication therapy
management tools in order to improve the safety and efficacy of the
medications being dispensed. A DailyMed pharmacist provides routine
communication with the patient, the primary care physician,
caregivers and payers in order to maximize the pharmaceutical care
administered. The DailyMed program improves patient care and drug
utilization while reducing drug and hospitalization costs for
private and government payers. DATASOURCE: Anthem Blue Cross
CONTACT: Leslie Porras for Anthem Blue Cross, +1-805-557-6745,
+1-909-224-8154 (cell),
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