Spokane prescription program reducing ER visits

The Spokane Prescription Drug Assistance Network (SPDA) has been credited in a recent study for contributing to a drop in hospital admissions and emergency room visits. The network, organized in part by former EHF board member Sam Selinger, helps patients access reduced cost and free medicines by connecting them to prescription assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. SPDA began in 2008 as the pilot program for the statewide Prescription Drug Assistance Foundation, approved by Washington State Legislature in 2005. The Foundation has since expanded to include similar programs in Seattle, Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Shelton, Yakima, Toppenish, Grandview, and Colfax.

The study tracked 310 patients for one year before enrolling in a prescription assistance program, and one year after. Results were published on April 1st in the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy. Patients receiving pulmonary and asthma medications showed the greatest drop in use of emergency services. However, the study also noted that young patients between 18-24 years old and patients on medications for mental conditions saw increased emergency room visits. Selinger commented that this finding creates an important space for future study.  

There has been very little research available on the affect of prescription assistance programs because most of the research has been kept proprietary by the big pharmaceutical companies. This study was a collaborative effort between SPDA, Washington State University Spokane, and local doctors and hospitals. Selinger commented to the Spokesman-Review that such collaboration is pretty unusual, but we here in the BHT region know that collaboration is exactly what we need to radically transform health, and are happy to see the SPDA is making significant headway towards BHT’s effort to attain the triple aim of health.