Synchronization & Nonadherence Correction (SYNC) Act of 2015

To provide for research and the testing of innovative health care delivery models to improve medication adherence, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Synchronization & Nonadherence Correction (SYNC) Act of 2015 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Between one-half and two-thirds of patients with chronic diseases in the United States do not take medications as prescribed. (2) Low rates of medication adherence result in higher health care costs, reduced effectiveness of health care treatments and regimens, negative health effects for patients, and tens of thousands of deaths on an annual basis. (3) Medication adherence may be lowest among patients with chronic diseases. (4) Improving medication adherence would reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and emergency room visits. (5) Nonadherence is estimated to cost the United States health care system over $100,000,000,000 each year. (6) Improving medication adherence could improve patient health outcomes, reduce health care costs, and lead to productivity gains. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) The term applicable individual 42 U.S.C. 1315(a)(4)(A) (2) The term medication adherence (3) The term medication wastage (4) The term persistence (5) The term primary nonadherence (6) The term Secretary (7) The term synchronization 4. National research and reporting strategy for improved medication adherence (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in coordination with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, shall conduct research and develop information to better inform decisionmakers regarding medication adherence and medication persistence, and methods to improve medication adherence and persistence in Federal health programs. (b) Activities included The activities described in subsection (a) shall include development of annual statistics on recommended medications, the rate of medication adherence, the rate of primary nonadherence, and the rate of medication persistence for patients with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and mental health conditions treated under the following health care programs: (1) Medicare The Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act. (2) Medicaid The Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act. (3) FEHBP The Federal Employees Health Benefit Program under chapter 89 (c) Biennial report on medication adherence and medication persistence Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act (and annually thereafter), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the statistics collected under subsection (a), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action to address problems and improve medication adherence and medication persistence as the Secretary determines appropriate. 5. Testing models for improving medication adherence (a) In general The Secretary shall test innovative health care delivery models, as described in subsections (b) and (c), to improve medication adherence and medication persistence, with the goal of improving health outcomes and decreasing health costs for chronic care conditions. (b) Models To test efficacy of synchronization (1) In general The model described in this subsection shall test the efficacy of synchronization of prescription drug medications for applicable enrollees in improving medication adherence, determining cost avoidance, and improving outcomes for those enrollees. (2) Participation An applicable enrollee who is eligible to participate in the model testing under this subsection shall participate in the model testing, unless the enrollee elects not to participate in the model. (3) Models tested The following models of synchronization shall be tested under this subsection: (A) Model 1 Synchronization (synchronization of prescription drug medications and medication reconciliation phone calls or electronic communication with enrollees prior to filling prescriptions). (B) Model 2 Synchronization (as described in subparagraph (A)) and compliance-based packaging. (C) Model 3 Synchronization (as described in subparagraph (A)) and ongoing pharmacist counseling that shall occur at the patient’s request and include review of the appropriateness of the medication regimen and any barriers to medication adherence. (4) Evaluation The Secretary shall evaluate the models in paragraph (3) by collecting and analyzing relevant plan and enrollee data, including at least the following: (A) Synchronization enrollment and drop-out rates. (B) Primary medication nonadherence. (C) Medication adherence and persistence rates. (D) Demographic characteristics of applicable enrollees. (E) Plan characteristics, such as plan benefit design. (F) Impact of the models on applicable enrollees who are— (i) eligible for benefits under a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security; or (ii) eligible for premium and cost-sharing subsidies under section 1860D–14(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–114(a) (G) Prescription drug claims data in comparison to other medical claims data for applicable enrollees in order to examine the effect of synchronization and adherence on overall health spending, including health care costs avoided, and patient outcomes. (c) Testing 90-Day fills at retail pharmacies for the first prescription (1) In general The Secretary shall conduct a demonstration that compares the use of 90-day first fills of prescriptions at retail pharmacies or using mail-order for maintenance medications against 30-day first fills for applicable enrollees under part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, to determine whether there is an impact on medication persistence, cost avoidance, and improving outcomes for those enrollees in subsequent refill periods. (2) Drugs Tested The model under this subsection shall only pertain to first fills for maintenance drugs treating chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and mental health conditions. (3) Evaluation of demonstration by GAO (A) Provision of data for evaluation The Secretary shall make available to the Comptroller General of the United States relevant plan and enrollee data in order to enable an evaluation of the demonstration under this subsection under subparagraph (B). (B) Evaluation Using data made available under subparagraph (A) and other relevant data, the Comptroller General of the United States shall evaluate the demonstration conducted under this subsection. Such evaluation shall examine the effect of long-term fills and adherence on overall health spending, including health care costs avoided, and patient outcome, and shall examine at least the following in relation to part D enrollees using 90-day first fills in comparison with those enrollees using 30-day first fills: (i) Medication adherence and persistence rates. (ii) Cost differentials in pharmacy costs. (iii) Prescription drug claims data in comparison to other medical claims. (iv) Medication wastage (as defined in section 3). (C) Report The Comptroller General shall submit a report to the Secretary and Congress on the evaluation conducted under this paragraph.

Summary: Synchronization & Nonadherence Correction (SYNC) Act of 2015 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to research and test methods for improving medication adherence. "Medication adherence" refers to the taking of medications according to their prescribed dosage, time, frequency, and direction. Research activities shall include the development of annual statistics related to medication adherence for patients with chronic diseases and mental health conditions treated under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program. HHS shall implement innovative health care delivery models to test: (1) the efficacy of "synchronization," which refers to the coordination of medication refills such that a patient's medications are refilled according to the same schedule; and (2) 90-day fills at retail pharmacies for the first prescription of maintenance drugs that treat chronic diseases and mental health conditions.