MEDIQ 
By Mediq concludes multi-year contract with insurer
Mediq Pharmacy is introducing a new healthcare program. General practitioners and pharmacists together decide whether or not a patient is receiving the correct treatment, whether or not a patient is taking it in the correct way (therapy compliance) or whether or not the pharmaceutical treatment is in line with the most recent guidelines and scientific insights. It's the first time a pharmaceutical program provides - fully automated and at a glance - insight into whether the pharmaceuticals should be adjusted. Better use of pharmaceuticals reduces the chance of complications and prevents unnecessary hospital admissions. Healthcare insurers of Achmea are the first to embrace the new program per 2012.
The program is mainly intended for patients who take
pharmaceuticals for chronic conditions. There are over
three million of such patients in the Netherlands. They can
expect a more intensive guidance on pharmaceuticals from
Mediq Pharmacy. A unique aspect is that Mediq Pharmacy
proactively screens all patients and not only when someone
visits the pharmacy. The pharmacist and general
practitioner discuss possible improvements to the
treatment. Then the general practitioner or the pharmacist
discusses this with the patient.
Improved use of pharmaceuticals is necessary
Important elements of the new healthcare program are the
prevention of the incorrect use of pharmaceuticals and
improving therapy compliance. An Utrecht University study
in 2010, showed that 16,000 patients end up in the hospital
every year as a result of the incorrect use of
pharmaceuticals. Other researches show that 30% to 60% of
patients do not take their pharmaceuticals as instructed
and are thus not therapy compliant. Patients are not always
aware of the health risks of non-compliance. Among other
things, Mediq's care program provides a clearer picture of
whether the patient's use of pharmaceuticals is optimal.
The optimal use of pharmaceuticals reduces the chance of
complications and prevents unnecessary hospital
admissions.
Gerben Klein Nulent, Executive Vice President of Mediq
Pharmacies for the Netherlands and Poland: This healthcare
program of Mediq takes pharmaceutical care to the next
level and it goes much further than supplying
pharmaceuticals. Together with the general practitioner
involved, we improve the use of pharmaceuticals by our
patients, in which regard Mediq focuses on the outcome of
care. We have been in dialogue with healthcare insurers for
quite some time regarding this aspect and we would like to
reach mutual agreements. The quality of our service in the
Mediq Pharmacy is improving while at the same time we are
reducing costs in pharmacies and hospitals."
Healthcare quality
Healthcare insurers of Achmea are the first to sign a
multi-year contract with Mediq. Besides a fee for the basic
services as the delivery of pharmaceuticals and
instructions, Mediq receives a fee for the new healthcare
program. Marjolein Verstappen, Director Healthcare
Procurement Achmea: "Mediq's care program is in line with
the political and social desire to bring the funding of
care into line with realised health gains and efficiency,
rather than focussing solely on the delivery of
pharmaceuticals." The contract will become effective on 1
January. On balance, the fee Mediq will receive from Achmea
for pharmaceuticals and related care services will be in
line with the fee for 2011, but the pharmaceutical care
will be of a higher quality.
Mediq responds to new compensation for pharmaceuticals and
pharmaceutical care
Mediq is introducing the care program in the lead-up to the
liberalisation of tariffs as of 1 January 2012. Until now,
the Dutch Healthcare Authority [Nederlandse Zorgautoriteit]
sets the fee for dispensing pharmaceuticals. With effect
from 2012 the reimbursement will be based on bilateral
agreements between the pharmacy and the healthcare insurer,
using the pharmaceutical services described by the Dutch
Healthcare Authority as a basis. In addition to delivering
pharmaceuticals and the associated care, for instance
providing instructions, fees can also be received for
additional services, directed for instance at enhancing
therapy compliance, advising on complex pharmaceuticals use
and providing information to certain groups of
patients.
