National Report Ranks Oklahoma as a Top State for Mental Health Services
21 July 2009 - 11:30PM
PR Newswire (US)
Ranking Featured Oklahoma's Innovative SoonerPSYCH Program OKLAHOMA
CITY, July 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Over the past three years,
Oklahoma has risen from a "D" to a "B" grade in the 2009 National
Alliance on Mental Illness' Grading the States Report -- a
state-by-state assessment of the nation's public mental health care
system.(1) Oklahoma showed the greatest improvement in the nation
and is heads above the national average grade of "D."(1) Oklahoma's
report card featured several of the state's innovations in mental
health services, including SoonerPSYCH (Sooner Prescription
Solutions for Your Cognitive Health) - a Medicaid prescription
management program.(1) An analysis of 2007 data from SoonerPSYCH
shows the program has helped increase the quality of care for
Oklahoma residents with severe mental illness while helping lower
health care costs.(2) SoonerPSYCH was developed by the Oklahoma
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS)
and Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) in collaboration with
clinical research firm Comprehensive NeuroScience, Inc. Lilly, an
Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company, provides funding for
this program to promote excellence in patient care. Operation and
implementation of the program is done solely by the states and
Comprehensive NeuroScience, Inc. Improving Quality of Care The four
goals of SoonerPSYCH are to improve continuity of patient care,
eliminate redundant treatments, coordinate care among health care
providers, and decrease risks associated with inappropriate
medication use. An analysis(2) of the program's provider outreach
in 2007 showed a: -- 72 percent decrease in the number of patients
who were prescribed the same mental health medications from
multiple doctors; -- 61 percent decrease in the number of patients
who were on two or more antipsychotics for 45 or more days; and --
52 percent decrease in the number of multiple prescribers of any
psychotropic for 45 or more days. The same analysis showed that,
between August 2004 and December 2007, Oklahoma may have avoided
$12.3 million in behavioral health pharmacy costs that would have
been incurred had the state not intervened.(2) "OHCA is pleased
that the SoonerPSYCH collaboration with ODMHSAS was specifically
cited in the NAMI report card. Our ongoing partnership continues to
result in positive outcomes for our members," said Dr. Lynn
Mitchell, Oklahoma Medicaid director. How the Program Works First
launched in 2004, the SoonerPSYCH program evaluates Medicaid
pharmacy claims on more than 400 mental health medications. It
identifies prescribing patterns that are inconsistent with
national, evidence-based best practice guidelines, including those
published in peer-reviewed medical journals. When there is an
inconsistency with what is considered best prescribing practice,
SoonerPSYCH sends an educational mailing that highlights the
research and best practice information in a concise document for
the physician's review and consideration at the next visit with the
patient. Some of the inconsistent patterns the program has
identified include premature discontinuation of a medication, rapid
switching from one medication to another, prescribing above or
below recommended dosing levels, and prescribing multiple
medications from the same therapeutic class. SoonerPSYCH also
alerts physicians when patients receive the same medication from
two different doctors, and informs physicians when their patients
have not refilled their prescriptions. This is a health care
concern because poor compliance or non-compliance with medication
treatment is strongly linked to relapse, rehospitalization, poor
outcomes, and high economic costs.(3) SoonerPSYCH is entirely
voluntary for doctors. All decisions regarding treatment and
medications are made privately between the physician and the
patient and are completely individualized. "Physicians will change
their prescribing practice patterns to be in keeping with best
practice, when they know what the best practice is. They use the
educational information from the program's mailings and, when they
do, the overall care of the patient is improved, and we see overall
reduction in health care costs," said Carol D. Clayton, Ph.D., vice
president, Operations, Comprehensive NeuroScience, Inc. National
Results and Awards Twenty-seven other states have run similar
programs, based in part on the increasing awareness that disease
management and coordination of care programs are effective health
care reform solutions. Nationwide, these programs have resulted in
2 million patient care improvement interventions.(4) On average,
states that have run the program have seen a behavioral health
pharmacy cost avoidance of almost $800 each year per patient whose
physician received an educational mailing compared with those
patients whose physician has not yet received an educational
mailing.(5) "We're pleased to see how this program is helping
improve care for Oklahoma Medicaid patients with mental illness,
who represent some of our most vulnerable citizens,' said Alex M.
Azar II, vice president of business-to-business, LillyUSA. "We
congratulate the state on the success of this program and its
dedication to delivering high quality health care to patients."
Because of its success, the program has been highlighted by leading
organizations and received several national awards, including: --
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Science
and Service Award; -- URAC Silver Award for Best Practices in
Consumer Empowerment and Protection; -- American Psychiatric
Association Bronze Achievement Award; and -- Disease Management
Association of America Gold Award. About Oklahoma Department of
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services The Oklahoma Department
of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) is
responsible for providing appropriate care to Oklahomans who are
affected by mental illness and substance abuse. Through the use of
evidence-based practices and delivery of treatment and preventative
services across the lifespan, the department continues to increase
the effectiveness and efficiency of the state's service delivery
system. Advances in health care, along with targeted prevention and
early intervention efforts, have made recovery a reality for
thousands of Oklahomans. Continuation and expansion of these
efforts will save thousands more. In fact, Oklahoma has become a
national leader in several areas of community based services
including the implementation of programs for assertive community
treatment, alternative criminal justice initiatives such as drug
and mental health courts, and comprehensive services for children
and families. About Oklahoma Health Care Authority The Oklahoma
Health Care Authority (OHCA) operates the state's SoonerCare
(Medicaid) and Insure Oklahoma programs. Through SoonerCare, the
agency provides health care for low-income children, pregnant women
and some individuals categorized as aged, blind and disabled.
Specialized programs provide services for uninsured women with
breast and cervical cancer, family planning services for low-income
Oklahomans and health care services for children with disabilities
who don't normally qualify for regular SoonerCare. The Insure
Oklahoma program provides assistance paying health insurance
premiums for lower-income employees of small businesses in the
state and some qualifying individuals who are self-employed,
temporarily unemployed or college students. About Eli Lilly and
Company Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is
developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by
applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories
and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations.
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers --
through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most
urgent medical needs. For more information about Lilly programs
that help improve patient care, visit
http://www.lillyforbetterhealth.com/. About Comprehensive
NeuroScience, Inc. Comprehensive NeuroScience, Inc., is a
privately-held company, specializing in research, care management
and education related to central nervous system disorders.
Comprehensive NeuroScience, Inc actively invites collaboration and
contact across multiple spheres, including academia, government
agencies, and with members of the biopharmaceutical and commercial
health care industries, as well as financial and investment
communities. O-LLY (1) Aron L, Honberg R, Duckworth K et al.
Grading the States 2009: A Report on America's Health Care System
for Adults with Serious Mental Illness, Arlington, VA: National
Alliance on Mental Illness. Available at:
http://www.nami.org/gtsTemplate09.cfm?Section=Overview1&Template=/ContentManag
ement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=75090. Accessed on April 13,
2009. (2) Data provided by Comprehensive NeuroScience Inc. (3)
Perkins DO. Predictors of noncompliance in patients with
schizophrenia. J Clin Psychiatry. December 2002; 63(12):1121-1128.
(4) Data provided by Comprehensive NeuroScience Inc. (5) Data
provided by Comprehensive NeuroScience Inc. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080416/CLW066LOGO) (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO)
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080416/CLW066LOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGODATASOURCE: Eli
Lilly and Company CONTACT: Janice Chavers of Eli Lilly and Company,
+1-317-651-6253, ; or Beth Minnigerode, +1-314-469-3500,
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