Preserving Access to Medications for More People

About the Program

Category: County Administration and Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

Rapidly rising medication costs continue to be a significant burden for the County Mental Health System. Finding ways to curtail unnecessary spending while improving patient care, always remains a top priority for the pharmacy department. In 2006, prescription data study revealed that a portion of Department of Mental Health patients were receiving multiple prescriptions for antipsychotic medications of the same class, a practice known as polypharmacy. Furthermore, each of these drugs are known to have serious unwanted side effects. In response to this challenge, an interdisciplinary, collaborative effort was initiated which involved software re-programming by Internal Services Department, workflow changes, and education to monitor and prevent polypharmacy. By doing so, the rate of polypharmacy decreased by over 99%, leading to an annual savings of $4.5 million for Department of Mental Health, while also ensuring safe and effective medication usage among DMH patients. The program continues, and is assisting with the Department’s efforts to cope with increased patient load, continuing escalating prices for all medications and expansion of services.