Population-based medication reviews: A descriptive analysis of the medication issues identified in a medicare not-for-profit prescription discount program

BACKGROUND: Medication reviews may be an important strategy to improve medication use, especially for individuals receiving many drugs. OBJECTIVE: To describe the types of medication issues and recommendations identified in the Iowa Priority Brown Bag Medication Reviews, compare individuals with medication issues with those without medication issues, and describe Iowa Priority enrollees' experiences with and satisfaction of the review. METHODS: A retrospective review of enrollment forms and medication review records and a survey of Iowa Priority members were conducted in 2002. Subjects were Medicare-eligible individuals who joined the Iowa Priority Prescription Savings Program. Frequency distributions and descriptive statistics were calculated. Analysis using t-test and χ² test determined differences between individuals with and without issues regarding use of drug therapy. RESULTS: Almost 13% of Iowa Priority enrollees received a review. There were 1167 individuals with 2123 medication issues identified. Nonprescription medications accounted for one-third of drug interactions and >40% of duplications. People with issues had poorer health, more chronic conditions, and took more drugs than people without medication issues. One-third of survey respondents discussed the review with their physicians, and 17.7% reported medication changes. Satisfaction with the review was good; however, only 24% were likely to have received an annual review. CONCLUSIONS: Iowa Priority Brown Bag Medication Reviews showed that individuals with fair/poor health, higher numbers of medications, and more chronic conditions were likely to have medication issues. Reviews generated discussions between physicians and patients, produced some medication changes, and helped individuals save money.