MHealthy: Focus on Medicines
The University launched a pilot program for employees, retirees, dependents and survivors who take multiple medications through the U-M Prescription Drug Plan. The project has two main goals:
- Improve health, and
- Contain costs for both members of the U-M community and the University itself
The project, called MHealthy: Focus on Medicines is a comprehensive medication review with an experienced U-M pharmacist to look for opportunities to optimize a person’s entire medicine use (including nonprescription medicines and supplements) while reducing the potential risks of medicine use.
Employees, retirees and their adult dependents are eligible for this program. Those who take seven or more medications through the U-M Prescription Drug Plan will be notified by the plan administrator (SXC Health Solutions) that they are eligible for a Comprehensive Medication Review to optimize drug therapy, ensure safety and discover opportunities for improving their health outcomes. Others may request a review by contacting the Focus on Medicines Program at (734) 936-3044 (or toll free at 866-965-6337) or email FocusonMeds@umich.edu.
Evaluation of Focus on Medicines’ effects during the pilot phase will guide possible future expansion of the program. Evaluation of program results will also help other employers and insurers adopt strategies that aim to foster good health while containing health care costs.
The Focus on Medicines pilot project is part of a much broader health-improvement effort, the MHealthy program, which encourages physical activity, healthier eating, safe working environments, mental and emotional health, disease management and much more
Focus on Medicines is made possible by the fact that U-M provides a single prescription drug plan for its entire community of 80,000 faculty, staff, graduate students, retirees and dependents and survivors. Since January 2003, U-M has saved millions of dollars by offering a U-M-designed and funded prescription drug plan based on current medical evidence and administered by a commercial prescription drug benefit manager.
Questions & Answers
What is Focus on Medicines?
MHealthy: Focus on Medicines is a pilot program for employees and retirees and their dependents and survivors who individually take
multiple prescription medications through the U-M Prescription Drug Plan.
Focus on Medicines is a comprehensive medication review with a U-M pharmacist to look for opportunities to optimize a person’s entire medicine use (including nonprescription medicines and supplements) while reducing the potential risks of medicine use.
Why is it being offered?
The project has two main goals: improve health and contain health care costs for both individuals and the University.
Studies show that the risk of drug-related problems is greater among people who have many different prescriptions for medicines, especially if they also take nonprescription medicines or dietary supplements such as vitamins and minerals.
Drugs, supplements and herbs can interact with each other in harmful ways or even cancel each other’s effects. For patients who take multiple medications, there is also a higher chance of confusion about when to take a medicine or how much to take ― which can keep them from getting the full benefit of their medications. Generic alternatives to brand-name drugs can reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients. Also, some pills can be safely split, so patients save money by purchasing fewer higher-dose pills.
The U-M program will try different approaches to help participants save money, reduce health risks and achieve their treatment goals. The program’s effect on health and cost for participants and the University will be evaluated scientifically. Findings may allow U-M to expand the program and are expected to be useful to other employers and health insurers.
Who designed the program and who oversees it?
U-M College of Pharmacy faculty members designed the program. It is being made available to employees and retirees and their
dependents and survivors as part of the MHealthy program, which promotes healthier living among all members of the U-M community
through attention to safe work environments, regular exercise, healthier eating, and other health and wellness efforts. SXC Health
Solutions Inc., which administers the U-M Prescription Drug Plan that covers 80,000 employees, dependents, retirees and survivors,
will identify potential participants based on its secure records. The pharmacists who will talk with participants are experienced
clinical pharmacists on the U-M College of Pharmacy faculty who also advise patients, doctors and nurses within U-M Health System.
Who is eligible to participate?
The program is open to all nonstudent U-M employees and retirees and their dependents and survivors who participate in the U-M
Prescription Drug Plan
Can I get a review even if I take fewer than seven medicines or am not chosen to participate in a Comprehensive Medication
Review?
Yes, if you take prescription medicines and have questions or would like to discuss your medicines and supplements with a pharmacist
you can contact the Focus on Medicines Program at (734) 936-3044 (or toll free at 866-965-6337) or e-mail
FocusonMeds@umich.edu.
How will the University protect employees' privacy?
Like any University activity involving health, the MHealthy: Focus on Medicines project must adhere to strict federal and state
medical privacy laws. So must SXC Health Solutions, the U-M Prescription Drug Plan administrator. Those laws allow projects like this
which are aimed at improving the health of employees covered by an employer’s health plans. SXC will review its secure database of
U-M prescription records to identify potential participants and will handle the mailing of letters to those who qualify.
Comprehensive Medication Reviews will be performed only for individuals who request the service. College of Pharmacy faculty and staff will maintain strict confidentiality and share Comprehensive Medication Review reports only with participants’ U-M doctors and nurses through the Health System’s secure electronic medical record system.
The evaluation of Focus on Medicines will be performed under the supervision of the U-M Medical Institutional Review Board. The evaluation and reports about findings will not include names or other personal information such as addresses, employee ID numbers or Social Security numbers.
Will this project interfere with my cancer treatment?
Pharmacists will not recommend changes to any multi-drug regimen being prescribed for patients with conditions such as cancer and
post-transplant therapy. However, pharmacists may be able to recommend ways patients can save money or reduce health risks from other
prescription and nonprescription medicines and supplements.
How can I reduce my out-of-pocket prescription costs?
Talk with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. The U-M Prescription Drug Plan offers low-cost access to generic medicines for many
conditions and charges less for preferred brand name drugs. The U-M Prescription Drug Plan also offers a pill-splitting program
that helps you save money. By cutting higher-dose pills in half, you can purchase fewer pills and still receive the prescribed dosage.
If you have questions about the U-M Prescription Drug Plan, call a benefits representative in the HR Service Center at 734-615-2000 locally, or 1-866-647-7657 for off-campus long distance.