New Report Underscores Unique Role LTC Pharmacies Play in Serving Complex Needs of Medicare Beneficiaries in Long-Term Care

DATE: July 17, 2024

SCPC and ATI Advisory partner to study unique interrelated challenges faced by nursing facility and assisted living residents

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 17, 2024 – A new report from the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC), the nation’s leading voice for long-term care (LTC) pharmacies, and ATI Advisory (ATI) highlights the clinical and functional complexity faced by millions of Medicare beneficiaries residing in nursing facilities and assisted living.

The new report, “Functional and Clinical Complexities of Medicare Beneficiaries in Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living,” found that residents of LTC facilities enrolled in Medicare often experienced high levels of functional impairment and multiple chronic conditions impacting their daily lives. The report underscores that Medicare beneficiaries who reside in LTC settings have similar needs, regardless of the type of LTC setting in which they live. 

The analysis – which builds on SCPC and ATI data published in 2021 and 2023 – shows that 93% of individuals in nursing facilities and 49% of those in assisted living need assistance with three or more activities of daily living (ADL). Among Traditional Medicare beneficiaries, 94% of nursing facility residents and 53% of assisted living residents live with four or more chronic conditions, and 52% of residents suffer from dementia or other cognitive impairments. 

“Long-term care patients are among the nation’s most vulnerable with many facing complex health care and related needs while relying heavily on multiple prescription medications,” said Alan Rosenbloom, President and CEO of the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition. “Medicare wisely recognizes the importance of enhanced patient care services that the roughly 1,200 LTC pharmacies provide to millions of seniors and others in long-term care nationwide. This new report underscores the vital role LTC pharmacies play in helping these uniquely vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries living in LTC settings navigate complex healthcare challenges.”

Living with functional and cognitive impairments compounds the complexity of managing chronic conditions (and related medications). Past case studies by SCPC and ATI have detailed how LTC pharmacies address these unique challenges by providing essential, specialized services to individuals living in LTC settings.

“Building on our prior work showing LTC residents with Medicare typically use 12 to 13 different prescription medications per year, this analysis underscores the complex needs experienced by these individuals,” said ATI lead researcher, Nils Franco. “There is a role for LTC pharmacy to address residents’ elevated pharmacy needs in the context of clinical, functional, and cognitive complexity.”

LTC pharmacies play an important role in caring for seniors and others with specific care needs. They provide specialized services to patients in long-term care settings as required by federal law, including enhanced medication management, 24/7 consultation, patient-specific packaging, heightened quality controls, delivery and more.

The full report is available for review on the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition website via this LINK.

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About Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition

The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC) is the only national organization exclusively representing the interests of LTC pharmacies, representing 75% of the sector overall. Its members operate in all 50 states and serve 850,000 patients daily in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across the country. Visit seniorcarepharmacies.org/ to learn more.

About ATI Advisory

ATI Advisory is a healthcare research and advisory services firm dedicated to system reform that improves health outcomes and makes care easier for everyone. ATI guides public and private leaders in developing scalable solutions. Its nationally recognized experts apply the highest standards in research and advisory services along with deep expertise to generate new ideas, solve hard problems, and reduce uncertainty in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. For more information, visit www.atiadvisory.com.