Neurologists could use more specialty pharmacies to help them manage MS patients, according to a new survey.
Specialty pharmacy is expected to play an ever-increasing role in the care of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, and physicians welcome this development. That's one of the conclusions of a new 76-page tome entitled The Multiple Sclerosis Trend Report: Perspectives from Managed Care, Providers, and Patients. The report surveyed 82 managed care executives, 143 neurologists and MS specialists, 68 coding staff at doctors' offices, 19 specialty pharmacies, 101 case managers, and 1,935 patients. It found that more than two-thirds of participating neurologists wish there were a specialty pharmacy program available to assist them with the management of MS patients and reduce their workload. They are particularly interested in getting help from specialty pharmacy case managers for screening patients for depression. To obtain a copy of the report, which is a joint effort of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Teva Neuroscience, contact Nicholas G. LaRocca, Ph.D., associate VP, Health Care Delivery and Policy Research, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, at (212) 476-0414 or by e-mail atnicholas.larocca@nmss.org.
To see more Daily News articles, click here.
To go to the Drug Topics homepage, clickhere.