Social determinants predict whether Medicare beneficiaries are offered a Comprehensive Medication Review

• Published in: Research in social and administrative pharmacy 2023-01, Vol.19 (1), p.184-188
• Main Authors: Lee, Merton, Zarowitz, Barbara J., Pellegrin, Karen, Cooke, Catherine E., Fleming, Sean P., Brandt, Nicole
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dual eligibility; Health policy; Humans; Low income subsidy; Medicare Part D; Medication Review; Medication Therapy Management; Retrospective Studies; Social Determinants of Health; United States
• ISSN: 1551-7411; 1934-8150
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2022.09.015

Medication reviews through Medicare's Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program may improve patient outcomes and lower health system costs, but these effects could be limited by a program design that does not address social determinants of health. To analyze the effects of social determinants of health on the odds of an eligible Medicare beneficiary not being offered Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR). Using the full 100% sample of the 2016 Part D Medication Therapy Management Data File linked to Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary File, a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis was conducted to determine which social and demographic variables are most strongly associated with being eligible for a CMR but not being offered one. Descriptive statistics were generated using SAS studio 3.8. Variables associated with the highest odds of not receiving a CMR when eligible are residence in Louisiana OR 1.79 (95%CI 1.70–1.88), receiving the LIS OR 1.76 (1.73–1.79), dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid OR 1.25 (1.12–1.41), and Black race OR 1.19 (1.16–1.21). Social determinants of health, most strongly geography and low-income status, predict being eligible for but not being offered CMR. Race continues to be a factor in disparate access to MTM services.