An Assessment of Three Post-Discharge Drug-Based Quality Assurance Events for Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries Enrolled in a Stand-Alone Part D Plan

• Published in: The Journal of medical practice management Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 93 - 97
• Main Authors: Blackwell, Steven A, Riley, Gerald F, Li, Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association for Physician Leadership 01.09.2016
• Subjects: Health administration; Health technology assessment
• ISSN: 8755-0229

This article examines the distribution of drug-based quality assurance events (QAEs) post-discharge across five-day increments and identifies characteristics associated with post-discharge QAEs. Data were obtained through a cross-sectional study of Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and over enrolled in stand-alone Part D plans during calendar year 2010. Our findings suggest an even more compressed timeframe than previously identified in the literature for addressing medication issues among elderly beneficiaries. Specifically, medication reconciliation is needed within two to three days of discharge instead of within 14 days as the literature suggests. To decrease inadvertent readmissions, an immediate in-community medication reconciliation following hospital discharge is needed.