Historical trend of racial and ethnic disparities in meeting Medicare medication therapy management eligibility in non-Medicare population

BackgroundPrior research examining racial and ethnic disparities in meeting Medicare medication therapy management (MTM) eligibility criteria among the non-Medicare population suggests minorities have lower likelihood of being eligible than non-Hispanic Whites (Whites). However, such research has not examined trends in disparities and whether these disparities may be expected to decrease over time based on historical data.ObjectivesTo examine trends in MTM eligibility disparities among the non-Medicare population from 1996–1997 to 2009–2010.MethodsThis retrospective observational analysis used Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data from the two study periods. The MTM eligibility criteria used by health insurance plans in 2008 and 2010 were analyzed. Trends in disparities were examined by including interaction terms between dummy variables for 2009–2010 and non-Hispanic Blacks (Blacks)/Hispanics in a logistic regression. Interaction effects were estimated on both the multiplicative and additive terms. Main and sensitivity analyses were conducted to represent the ranges of the Medicare MTM eligibility thresholds used by health insurance plans.ResultsAccording to the main analysis, Blacks and Hispanics were less likely to be eligible than Whites for both sets of eligibility criteria in 1996–1997 and in 2009–2010. Trend analysis for both sets of criteria found that on the multiplicative term, there were generally no significant changes in disparities between Whites and Blacks/Hispanics from 1996–1997 to 2009–2010. Interaction on the additive term found evidence that disparities between Whites and Blacks/Hispanics may have increased from 1996–1997 to 2009–2010 (e.g., in the main analysis between Whites and Hispanics for 2010 eligibility criteria: difference in odds = −0.03, 95% CI: [−0.03]–[−0.02]).ConclusionsRacial and ethnic minorities in the non-Medicare population experience persistent and often increasing disparities in meeting MTM eligibility criteria. Drug benefit plans should take caution when using elements of Medicare MTM eligibility criteria.