Woonsocket, RI—A pharmacist-led transition program from hospital to home, initiated by an insurance company, can reduce readmissions and costs, according to a new study published in Health Affairs. The CVS Health–led research looked at a care-transition program based on medication reconciliation delivered by pharmacists through home visits and telephone calls. Results indicate that the high-risk patients who participated had a 50% reduced relative risk of readmission within 30 days of discharge and an absolute risk reduction of 11.1%. At the same time, the program saved $2 for every $1 spent. Study authors note that the “results represent real-world evidence that insurer-initiated, pharmacist-led care transition programs, focused on but not limited to medication reconciliation, have the potential to both improve clinical outcomes and reduce total costs of care.”

« Click here to return to The MTM Review.