AMCP Foundation Announces Recipients of 2019 National Best Poster Contests

The AMCP Foundation last week awarded recipients of its 2019 Best Poster Contests, in partnership with CVS Health. The recipients were recognized March 28 at the AMCP Foundation Awards Ceremony during the AMCP Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif.

The 2019 awardees are:

Best Poster by a Student Pharmacist: Hillary Parkin, a PharmD Candidate at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy, for “Medication Therapy Management: Outcomes of Telephonic Pharmacist Outreach.” As established in the AMCP/AMCP Foundation research agenda from the Joint Research Committee, services like medication therapy management, or MTM, would benefit from more evidence to support its use. Hillary illustrated the impact of a pharmacist-led telephonic MTM program on medication adherence rates and healthcare utilization within a Medicare Part D Employer Group Waiver Plan. Her analysis showed higher adherence rates trending with fewer hospital visits in patients receiving telephonic MTM. This research encourages further investigation into the impact of pharmacist-led patient services in health outcomes and total cost savings.

Best Poster by a Resident or Fellow: Hannah Lee-Brown, PharmD, Executive Fellow at Pharmacy Quality Alliance for “Interventions Impacting Medication Access: A Scoping Review.” Patient access to care is a challenge that demands action. Hannah’s research examined interventions to aid in patient access using peer-reviewed literature published post-Affordable Care Act implementation in 2010. She identified only two studies which directly evaluated intervention impact on medication access. Her research reveals an evidence gap and sheds light on the need for standardized medication access metrics.

Best Poster by a Graduate Student: Eric Borrelli, PharmD, MBA, a PhD Candidate at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, for “Medicare Part D Spending for Abiraterone and Enzalutamide in 2016.” Examined 2016 Medicare spend for two first-line therapies (abiraterone and enzalutamide) for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. These two drugs alone exceeded $1.1 billion for total Medicare spend. Despite the similar number of prescriptions and costs of these medications, why were there significant spending rate differences between states? This research presents an opportunity for managed care to further investigate impactful upstream factors.

Honorable Mention was presented to Shiyu Zhang, PhD Candidate, and Gladys Brown, PharmD Candidate, both at The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, for “Evaluation of Progesterone (17 α-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate) Utilization and Adherence in Women with High-risk Pregnancy Covered by Texas Medicaid.” We know the importance of outcomes research in determining the impact of therapies on our patient’s wellbeing and adherence. Shiyu and Gladys examined the impact of progesterone, an effective medication in reducing the rate of pre-term delivery, in high-risk pregnancies within the Texas Medicaid female population. The prescribing and adherence rates for the population was astounding at less than 10% and 20%, respectively. This research is an honorable mention as it sparks discussion around therapy evaluation centered on patient outcomes.

“Advancing medication-related research is a cornerstone of AMCP Foundation’s mission,” said Paula J. Eichenbrenner, MBA, CAE, Executive Director of the AMCP Foundation. “The posters we recognized grow the evidence base around pharmacist-led interventions, medication access and spending rates. With investigators like these, managed care will continue to improve the development and administration of the pharmacy benefit.”

Joining Eichenbrenner in the award presentations were Mindy Messina, PharmD, Clinical Vice President, Health Plans at CVS Health; Laura E. Happe, PharmD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief at Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy; and Susan A. Cantrell, RPh, CAE, Chief Executive Officer at AMCP.

This year’s competitions drew 115 entries, which were judged on scientific merit; strength of conclusions; relevance of research to managed care pharmacy; clarity of materials; and knowledge of subject matter during the presentation. The three poster awardees recognized last week receive a $500 prize, a one-year AMCP membership and complimentary registration to the AMCP Nexus 2019 this October in National Harbor, Md.

Since 2002, the poster competitions have provided an opportunity for student pharmacists and new practitioners to demonstrate scientific expertise along with presentation, poster development and technical skills. The Foundation also periodically invites established researchers to compete for topical Best Poster Awards.

The Foundation thanks CVS Health, as well as the judges and preceptors who supported the contest.