What a Landmark Study Means for Cost-Effective, Clinically Appropriate Care
A major new study, Electronic Decision Support for Deprescribing in Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care, published in JAMA Network Open offers powerful validation for what we’ve long known at RazorMetrics: deprescribing works best when it’s integrated into a prescriber’s normal workflow.
In a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial of 700+ long-term care residents, researchers found that pairing electronic decision support with routine medication reviews resulted in a 23.7% increase in deprescribing compared to standard care. That’s not just statistically significant, it’s clinically meaningful.
When up to 88% of residents in long-term care are prescribed medications that are no longer appropriate, the result is often serious harms like falls, delirium, hospitalizations, and death. Deprescribing, when done thoughtfully, aligns medications with a patient’s current health status and goals of care, especially in later life.
Electronic support tools that augment existing processes, rather than adding burdensome alerts or separate workflows, drive meaningful change. Which is exactly the approach RazorMetrics takes.
RazorMetrics Deprescribing, Built for Real-World Practice
At RazorMetrics, we’ve built a scalable deprescribing solution into our broader pharmacy cost containment platform. Here’s how we help:
- Physician-directed intervention: We work directly with prescribers to flag opportunities to reduce or discontinue medications that may no longer be appropriate.
- Workflow-aligned: Our interventions are delivered in a way that fits seamlessly into the clinic’s normal operations with no extra logins, and no disruption.
- Data-driven and customizable: We prioritize deprescribing candidates using evidence-based guidelines and the patient’s full medication history.
- Backed by reporting: Plan sponsors receive clear metrics on deprescribing rates, savings, and improved adherence outcomes.
Our results in real-world settings mirror the trial’s success. In one client program targeting polypharmacy and overuse, we saw up to 33% acceptance from physicians and substantial plan savings, without burdening care teams or compromising patient safety.
A Scalable Way Forward
The JAMA study also reinforced that low-touch, tech-enabled solutions are both effective and sustainable. That’s a big deal in a health system stretched for time, staff, and resources. While deprescribing has long been recommended, implementation has lagged.
As more states and health plans look to reduce costs without cutting benefits, deprescribing offers a rare win-win: fewer unnecessary drugs, better patient outcomes, and lower costs.
If you’re a plan sponsor, provider group, or policymaker looking to advance medication optimization, now is the time to make deprescribing a standard part of care. RazorMetrics can help you get there without disrupting your physicians, your members, or your existing infrastructure.
Want to see how?
Let’s talk about how deprescribing and polypharmacy fit into your plan’s cost-containment strategy.
