Studies Confirm Metabolic Validation Testing Does Have A Positive Financial Impact

Mar 23, 2016 | News

As the education of Pharmacogenomic Testing becomes more prevalent within the LTC arena, many questions have been raised as to the potential for “true savings” or “financial benefits” to testing.

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Clay Bullard, President
PGx Medical

Several studies have been published that speak to both the clinical and financial benefits of utilizing testing. The goal of this article is to highlight several of these reference studies and their findings, all in an effort for CEO’s, DON’s and Physicians to potentially rethink some of their processes in Medication Management for LTC residents.

In 2014, the amount of money spent on prescriptions in the US was approximated to be $300 billion, with an estimated 6.3% annual increase according to Medicare and Medicaid data1. It is estimated that an additional $.50 is spent on Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR’s) for every $1 spent on the initial prescription. Polypharmacy dynamics increase significantly within the Elderly, specifically LTC residents, compounds additional costs associated with falls, hospitalizations, increased level of care, pain management and so on2-6.

Other studies have shown that implementing the PGx testing program can change referral rates and decrease mortality rates within LTC facilities. This can lead to higher census rates, better marketing efforts and staff efficiency7-8. A healthier patient population on fewer medications, and lower mortality rates, should provide a positive value proposition for any LTC facility Owner, CEO, Physician, or care provider to consider.

Additionally, one study has shown the value of testing to decrease patient treatment cost by over 60% in a clinic setting9. In the hospital setting, studies show the true impact to care providers, as hospital length of stay was three times longer with twice the amount of hospital charges/cost for patients who had an ADR and intermediate metabolization of their 2D6 gene10. Implementing Metabolic Validation testing early in the care process is key to provide clinical and financial benefit11.

In summary, the argument that there is not data to support the value proposition for a program that costs an LTC facility $0 to implement, has now been eliminated. We are very excited to have an overwhelming amount of clinical and statistical data that supports the “real world” feedback we receive daily from clinicians in facilities all over the United Sates. These data points validate the clinical and financial impact the program has had and can have in an LTC facility.

We hope every facility will ask the simple question, “Is our facility doing everything we can do to offer the best opportunities for quality of life for your residents?”

For more information, contact:
PGx Medical
info@pgxmed.com
405-509-5112

References:

  1. (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Available from: https:// www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends- and Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/Downloads/proj2014.pdf. CMS; 2013. Accessed November 27, 2015.)
  2. SgangaF,LandiF,RuggieroC,etal.Polypharmacyandhealthoutcomes among older adults discharged from hospital: Results from the CRIME study. Geratr Gerontol Int. 2015;15(2):141–146.
  3. 10. Runganga M, Peel NM, Hubbard RE, et al. Multiple medication use in older patients in post-acute transitional care: a prospective cohort study. Clin Interv Aging. 2014;9:1453–1462.
  4. 11. Garfinkel D, Mangin D. Feasibility study of systematic approach for discontinuation of multiple medications in older adults: addressing polypharmacy. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(18):1648–1654.
  5. 12. Garfinkel D, Zur-Gil S, Ben-Israel J. The war against polypharmacy: a new cost- effective geriatric-palliative approach for improving drug therapy in disabled elderly people. Isr Med Assoc J. 2007;9(6): 430–434.
  6. Winner J, Allen JD, Altar CA, Spahic-Mihajlovic A. Psychiatric phar- macogenomics predicts health resource utilization of outpatients with anxiety and depression. Transl Psychiatry. 2013;3:e242.
  7. Garfinkel D, Mangin D. Feasibility study of systematic approach for discontinuation of multiple medications in older adults: addressing polypharmacy. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(18):1648–1654.
  8. 12. Garfinkel D, Zur-Gil S, Ben-Israel J. The war against polypharmacy: a new cost- effective geriatric-palliative approach for improving drug therapy in disabled elderly people. Isr Med Assoc J. 2007;9(6): 430–434.
  9. Herbild L, et al. Does Pharmacogenetic Testing for CYP450 2D6 and 2C19 Among Patients with Diagnoses within the Schizophrenic Spectrum Reduce Treatment Costs? Basic & Clin Pharmacol&Toxicol 2013; doi10.1111/bcpt.12093.
  10. Chou WH, et al. Extension of a Pilot Study: Impact From the Cytochrome P450 2D6 Polymorphism on Outcome and Costs Associated With Severe Mental Illness. J Clin Pyschopharmacol 2000;20(2):246-251.

11. Saldivar JS, Taylor D, Sugarman EA, Cullors A, Garces JA, Oades K, Centeno J; Initial assessment of the benefits of implementing pharmacogenetics into the medical management of patients in a long-term care facility; Dove Medical Press, 19 January 2016 Vol2016:9 Pages 1-6