By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    What Are the Benefits of CBD?
    November 27, 2021
    How to Measure Adult Diapers- The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Right Size
    March 8, 2022
    medicine cabinet
    The Effect Of Finished Dosage Form Manufacturing In New Drugs
    July 5, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    writing medical training manuals
    Important Tips For Writing Medical Training Manuals
    October 28, 2020
    BioPharma Beat logo
    BioPharma Beat: mHealth Apps – to Regulate or Not to Regulate
    May 12, 2015
    Tips for Small Businesses to Reduce Healthcare Costs
    February 5, 2021
    Latest News
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 18, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Diabetes Patients Using Mail-Order Pharmacy Less Likely to Visit ER
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > Diabetes Patients Using Mail-Order Pharmacy Less Likely to Visit ER
BusinessHospital Administration

Diabetes Patients Using Mail-Order Pharmacy Less Likely to Visit ER

Susan Scutti
Last updated: November 25, 2013 9:11 am
Susan Scutti
Share
5 Min Read
online pharmacies
SHARE

online pharmaciesKaiser Permanente, a health care provider founded in 1945, recently discovered that its mail-order pharmacy seems to have a positive effect on the health of patients with diabetes.

online pharmaciesKaiser Permanente, a health care provider founded in 1945, recently discovered that its mail-order pharmacy seems to have a positive effect on the health of patients with diabetes. Those who received prescribed heart medications by mail from its in-house pharmacy were less likely to visit the emergency room compared with patients who picked up prescriptions in person, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Managed Care.

“Overall, we didn’t see any safety concerns,” Julie A. Schmittdiel, Ph.D, research scientist with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and the study’s lead author, stated in a press release. “For the vast majority of people, mail order pharmacy works well.”

Impersonal Preference

For three years, the study tracked 17,217 adult Kaiser Permanente members with diabetes who were first prescribed heart medications in 2006 — diabetes dramatically increases the risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks and stroke. The researchers discovered that diabetes patients under age 65 who used the Kaiser Permanente mail-order pharmacy had significantly fewer emergency room visits for any cause, when compared to those who picked up prescriptions in person (33.8 percent compared to 40.2 percent, respectively).

Kaiser Permanente offers its members various prescription medication options. Patients can use its mail-order pharmacy or pick up prescriptions at walk-in pharmacies located in the health care provider’s hospitals and outpatient medical buildings. Kaiser Permanente’s mail-order pharmacy allows members to refill prescriptions by phone, online, and through a mobile app. Significantly, copayments are often lower for the same medication supply from the mail-order pharmacy when compared to a walk-in pharmacy. Lower copays combined with convenience must be attractive to many patients. In 2011, Kaiser Permanente members refilled almost 10 million prescriptions online — a 19 percent jump from 2010.

The study did not look at possible reasons why the use of mail order pharmacies was associated with fewer emergency room visits. In previous studies, Schmittdiel discovered that patients who use mail order pharmacy report better medication adherence and cholesterol management than those who use walk-in pharmacies. Researchers hope to explore other factors that might contribute to better patient outcomes. However, it is important to remember that although the Kaiser Permanente mail-order pharmacy represents a positive for patients, the same cannot be said of all online pharmacies.

A Failing Grade for Online Pharmacies

Only three percent of the online pharmacies reviewed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) are in compliance with U.S. pharmacy laws and practice standards. In a newly-released report that reviewed 10,500 Internet drug outlets, the NABP discovered that nearly half (5,017) offer foreign or non-FDA-approved drugs. Meanwhile, nearly a quarter (2,394) have a physical address located outside the U.S., and considerably more than half (62 percent) list no address whatsoever. Another 16 percent do not maintain a secure website, exposing customers to financial fraud and identity theft. Finally, and perhaps most detrimentally, 88 percent do not require a valid prescription.

An international association, the NABP suggests fraudulent pharmacies pose a threat to public health. One common practice on bogus sites is to offer fake-generic products while using the brand name: for instance, the NABP report quotes “Generic Viagra,” “Cialis Soft Tabs,” and “Levitra Jelly.” “These products have not been … sanctioned in any way by the companies whose names they use,” wrote the authors of the report. “Often, these illegal knockoffs will contain inaccurate amounts of the active ingredients, no active ingredients, or harmful fillers.” Though it may simply be unethical to buy knockoff fashion accessories, it could quite literally kill you to purchase counterfeit prescription drugs.

Source: Schmittdiel J, Karter AJ,  Dyer W, et al. Safety and Effectiveness of Mail Order Pharmacy Use in Diabetes. American Journal of Managed Care. 2013.

(image: shutterstock)

TAGGED:diabetesKaiser Permanentemail-order pharmacy
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
Mental Health
June 18, 2025
healthcare facilities
Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
Global Healthcare Infographics
June 15, 2025
from gut to glow
From Plate to Wellness: How Everyday Foods Nourish Your Body Inside and Out
Dental health Infographics Specialties
June 15, 2025

You Might also Like

Drug Reimbursement: Europe vs US

April 9, 2013
Image
Hospital AdministrationPolicy & LawPublic Health

EEOC Regs on Wellness Incentives: Progress, but Many Issues

April 29, 2015

HIPAA Compliance Breaches Higher Than Ever: What Are You Doing About It?

April 26, 2016
Handshake.jpg
BusinesseHealthSocial Media

How Practice Managers Can Get Physician Buy-In for Digital Marketing

April 22, 2016
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?