Philadelphia, PA – Leading health insurer Independence Blue Cross (Independence) and Catamaran, a leading provider of technology and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) services, presented their joint research this week at the annual International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) conference in Montreal, Canada.
In a poster presentation “A randomized trial of a PBM vendor solution: A collaborative approach to decision making,” Aaron Smith-McLallen, PhD, a senior research scientist at Independence, highlighted the two companies’ work to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of a medication therapy management program and retrospective drug utilization review program on pharmacy and medical costs in a fully-insured commercial population. Among the conclusions, the research showed medication therapy management produced short-term cost savings among people with chronic conditions.
In addition, Qiuyan Cindy Wang, PhD, a senior research scientist at Independence, presented her poster “Identify congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients at high risk of hospitalization: Using predictive analytics for patient outreach.” Wang’s research set out to develop predictive models that can identify CHF and COPD patients at high risk of acute hospitalization within a six month period so insurers could provide preemptive case management services.
About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve nearly 8.8 million people nationwide, including 2.5 million in the region. For more than 75 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more about how we’re changing the game, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
About Catamaran
Catamaran, the industry’s fastest-growing pharmacy benefits manager helps organizations and the communities they serve take control of prescription drug costs. Managing more than 350 million prescriptions each year on behalf of over 32 million members, our flexible, holistic solutions improve patient care and empower individuals to take charge of their health. Processing one in every five prescription claims in the U.S., Catamarans skill and scale deliver compelling financial results and sustainable improvement in the overall health of members. Catamaran is headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., with multiple locations in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please visit
CatamaranRX.com and for industry news and information follow Catamaran on Twitter, @CatamaranCorp
About ISPOR
Founded in 1995, ISPOR is a non-profit public organization that promotes the science of health economics and outcomes research. ISPOR facilitates the translation of this research into useful information for health care decision makers to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and fairness of health care to improve health.
Media contact
Ruth Stoolman
Independence Blue Cross
215-241-4807 (office)
215-280-3335 (cell)
ruth.stoolman@ibx.com