Pharmacist-implemented pharmaceutical manufacturers' assistance programs: effects on health outcomes for seniors

In the environment of rapidly mounting medication costs, pharmaceutical manufacturers' assistance programs (PMAPs) have become increasingly important in supplying medications to financially vulnerable patients. At Shenandoah Valley Compassionate Pharmacy, Winchester, Virginia, a nonprofit facility serving low-income seniors, a pharmacist and a patient advocate implement PMAPs by helping to enroll patients, dispensing medications, and providing patient counseling. To examine the effects of the program, we compared patients' clinical indicators before and after a 42-month intervention. Statistical analysis evaluated changes in clinical variables, such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, lipid panel (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein [LDL], highdensity lipoprotein [HDL], and triglycerides [TG]) for 84 seniors diagnosed with one or more chronic conditions. Results show statistically significant improvement in total cholesterol, LDL, and mean arterial pressure (calculated). TGs and A1c did not change significantly. In addition to dispensing free medications, the pharmacist provides counseling to enhance the efficacy of geriatric pharmacotherapy.