University and college of pharmacy collaboration to control health plan prescription drug costs.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the Raising Energy and Awareness in Campus Health (REACH) program, an innovative pharmacy practice model implemented within a self-insured employer.


METHODS
University of Kentucky, Lexington.


METHODS
A self-funded university-based health plan. PRACTICE INNOVATION/INTERVENTIONS: As part of a university-wide effort to control rising health care costs for 24,000 employees and dependents, four novel pharmacist services encompassed in the REACH program were provided: Co-Pay Counseling; Good Medicines; OutREACH; and Disease Management and Health Promotion.


METHODS
University health plan expenditures and health plan member out-of-pocket expenses for prescription medications.


RESULTS
The REACH services were provided by 3.5 full-time equivalent pharmacists. Pharmacists evaluated health plan members' medications and conditions in an effort to identify more cost-effective treatment regimens in the Co-Pay Counseling program; provided confidential medication regimen review in the Good Medicines effort; provided informational programs at worksites within the university in the Out-REACH service; and worked with plan members and their health providers to prevent and/or minimize the impact of diseases such as diabetes and dyslipidemias. The overall university program and medication coinsurance strategy saved an estimated 1.6 million dollars in 2003-04.


CONCLUSIONS
This unique package of employee benefits and services enabled the University of Kentucky to slow the growth of health care expenditures. Pharmacists were an important element in this effort.
Nicholas
Amy
A
College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 725 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536-0082, USA. asmoun1@email.uky.edu
Divine
Holly
H
Nowak-Rapp
Margaret
M
Roberts
Kenneth B
KB
D003363:Cost Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003376:Counseling; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics*; D005252:Fees, Pharmaceutical; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000191:economics*; D011364:Professional Practice; D012580:Schools, Pharmacy / Q000458:organization & administration; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration