HEDIS for Medication Management in the Elderly

Date: 02/28/17

Prescription drug use by the elderly contributes to hospitalizations, longer illnesses, loss of independence, and an increase in falls and fractures.

There are two HEDIS measures related to medication management in the elderly. The first measure—potentially harmful drug-disease interactions in the elderly—assesses the percentage of adults 65 and older who have a specific disease or condition (i.e., chronic renal failure, dementia, history of falls) and who were dispensed a prescription for a medication that could exacerbate that condition. The second measure—use of high-risk medications in the elderly—assesses the percentage of adults 65 and older who received at least one high-risk medication or who received at least two different high-risk medications.

What Providers Can Do

1. Avoid prescribing high-risk drugs: This is an important, simple and effective strategy in reducing medication-related problems and adverse drug events in older adults.
2. Regularly review your patients’ prescriptions and over-the-counter medications: Look for signs of unnecessary or duplicate medications, prescribing from multiple doctors, as well as harmful interactions. Ask the patient if they understand what each of the drugs is for and explain how to take them properly. 
3. Learn more about potentially inappropriate medication for older adults: The American Geriatrics Society guidelines are online.