At least two pharmacies in Mountain View County are participating in a University of Calgary study to see if eliminating insurance co-payments can reduce the risk of cardiovascular outcomes in Alberta seniors.
Pharmasave in Carstairs and Didsbury, both owned by Jody Keller, are participating in the ACCESS study by advertising and identifying potential candidates in the region.
“A recent survey in Alberta identified financial barriers and knowledge barriers as frequently cited reasons why patients may stop taking their medications,” said Craig Curtis, a member of the ACCESS study research team at the university.
“The ACCESS research team is looking to enroll 5,000 seniors from across Alberta and investigate if overcoming these barriers has an impact on the rates of heart disease and stroke.”
Keller said candidates must be over the age of 65 with low income and a high risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack or stroke.
He said patients who participate in the study would have a 50 per cent chance of receiving free preventive medications through their existing Alberta Blue Cross drug coverage.
Eligible patients enrolled in the study will receive free preventive medications used to treat diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease for three years.
They will also have access to a personalized education program aimed at helping seniors make healthy lifestyle choices and use preventive medications properly.
Keller said the average senior pays a co-payment of $25 or less when they fill their prescription at Pharmasave.
“What's in it for the patient is less cost and the potential to have better outcomes, so there's two big things for them,” said Keller. “To me it's a win-win.”
Keller has been a pharmacist for 20 years, a pharmacy owner for 11 years, and says he believes in the study.
“We believe this is a good thing for our patients to consider,” he said.
“Our primary focus is quality care and if that means by eliminating some of these co-pays for low income seniors and improve their health, that's exactly why we live and breathe quality care in our communities,” he said.
“Let's see what the study can do to help improve outcomes, these cardiovascular outcomes which we're dealing with every day.”
Seniors who are interested can visit either pharmacy or call the ACCESS study centre at 1-844-944-8927.
"We believe this is a good thing for our patients to consider."Jody Keller,Carstairs Pharmasave
