HEALTH PLAN COVERAGE FOR MEDICAL DEVICES AND THE USE OF ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD SYSTEMS
Author(s)
Brook RA1, Sax MJ2, Carlisle JA3, Smeeding JE4
1The JeSTARx Group & NPRT, Newfoundland, NJ, USA, 2The TPG-NPRT, Glastonbury, CT, USA, 3The Pharmacy Group, Glastonbury, CT, USA, 4The JeSTARx Group, Dallas, TX, USA
OBJECTIVES: Medical devices are used to treat different conditions, are reviewed by the FDA, and potentially paid for by insurers/payors. For some payors medical devices payments are mandated through specific benefit. To manage their plans/practices, many organizations use Electronic Medical Record systems [EMRs]. To understand the review and coverage of medical devices; and the adoption/funding of EMRs. METHODS: Managed care (MC) medical+pharmacy directors [MDs+PDs] completed an online-interactive survey of: advisor+plan information; medical device coverage/reviews; and EMR adoption/use. RESULTS: Respondents were mostly MDs (54.6%) and worked for health plans (83.6%). The plans were local=39.6%, National=35.4%, and regional=25.0%; Plans could cover multiple member-types: commercial=91.3%, Medicaid=89.1%, Medicare MA-PDP=91.3% and Medicare PDP-only=76.1%. The majority were involved with medical device reviews (66% versus 86% for pharmaceutical reviews). AMCP-dossiers for medical devices were not required by 76.6% of plans and only 4.4% used AMCP-dossiers in their reviews. In their reviews medical devices were compared with: standards of care (63.8%), other medical devices only (23.4%) or pharmaceuticals (12.8%). Respondent involvement in medical device reviews were: all cases=66%, based on a cost-threshold=10.6%, under the medical plan due to Medicare regulations=4.3% and not-involved=19.1%. EMRs were used for billing (30.2% of plans); ePrescribing (27.9%); and lab tests (21.4%). Among the plans that require EMRs: 31.6% previously acquired; EMRs were provided at no cost (31.6%) and 5.3% at a cost; 21.0% didn’t specify funding; and other sources funded (10.6%). ACA funding had already been received (27.9% of plans) and 2.3% planned to receive funding through the ACA; 69.8% didn’t know. CONCLUSIONS: The environment for P&T Committee decision making in managed care is undergoing a series of changes. Health plan medical and pharmacy directors, who commonly serve as P&T Committee members, have distinct opinions as to how to alter the process to adapt to these influences as they review medical devices and implement EMRs.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2016-05, ISPOR 2016, Washington DC, USA
Value in Health, Vol. 19, No. 3 (May 2016)
Code
PMD68
Topic
Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Pricing Policy & Schemes
Disease
Multiple Diseases