title: Access to spacers and peak flow meters among medicaid patients with asthma.
abstract: Asthma morbidity and mortality have increased at alarming rates. Morbidity is significantly higher among minorities and low-income populations. The purpose of this study was to survey pharmacies licensed to provide both asthma medications and durable medical equipment (DME) to evaluate their acceptance of Medicaid as payment for spacers and peak flow meters in patients with Medicaid. Twenty-four pharmacies were identified and completed a telephone survey. Only 64% of the pharmacies licensed to accept Medicaid for DME provide this service. We postulate that improving DME licensing and claims reimbursement will impact medication compliance, as well as asthma morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. MageeJamesS@uams.edu
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.forename: Stacie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ayers
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Golden
authors.forename: Perla A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Vargas
mesh_terms: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001131:Arkansas; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D004389:Durable Medical Equipment / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D036503:Inhalation Spacers / Q000191:economics*; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000191:economics; D008484:Medicaid; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000191:economics; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000191:economics
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents