MPRO Helps Michigan Nursing Homes Reduce the Use of Antipsychotic Drugs

FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. – MPRO, the federally designated quality improvement organization (QIO) for Michigan is leading the way to decrease the use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes across the state. New data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shows the use of antipsychotic medications in treating long-term nursing home patients in the U.S. dropped significantly in the first quarter of 2013, compared with the last quarter of 2011. This success is in large part due to a nationwide CMS initiative. MPRO leads the program in Michigan.

“MPRO quality improvement coordinators work diligently with nursing homes throughout Michigan to reduce the use of antipsychotics in people with dementia,” said Robert Yellan, MPH, J.D, FACHE, MPRO president and chief executive officer. “It’s just one of the many examples of our commitment to improving the quality of care, and ultimately the quality of life, for Michigan residents.”    

The effort to reduce the inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs is an important portion of the work QIOs do to support quality improvements in some 5,000 nursing homes across the nation. QIO efforts also complement both the priorities of the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care, and the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes campaign. Audrey Stob, R.N., CPHQ, MPRO quality improvement coordinator, is the co-convener for the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes campaign in Michigan.    

In addition to reducing antipsychotic use in Michigan nursing homes, the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes campaign has decreased the use of physical restraints by 2.4 percent in the state, which is more than the national average of 1.8 percent.  

Click here to learn more about MPRO’s work with nursing homes in Michigan.

ABOUT MPRO

MPRO (www.mpro.org) is an independent nonprofit organization and a national leader in health care quality improvement and medical review. MPRO serves as the federally designated quality improvement organization (QIO) for Michigan under contract with the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In its role as a QIO, MPRO is charged with the following:

·         Improve quality of care for beneficiaries by working with Michigan Medicare providers to embrace evidence-based medicine across all settings (hospital, physician office, nursing home, and home health)

·         Protect the integrity of the Medicare Trust Fund by ensuring that Medicare pays only for services and goods that are reasonable and medically necessary and are provided in the most appropriate setting

·         Protect beneficiaries (approximately 1.5 million beneficiaries in Michigan) by addressing individual complaints, such as beneficiary complaints and provider-based notice appeals

MPRO also provides consultative services, medical and utilization review, and data analysis to federal agencies, state Medicaid and public health agencies, healthcare facilities, and private health plans and other third party payers. Based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, MPRO’s staff consists of physician reviewers, clinical quality improvement and patient safety experts and statisticians. MPRO provides expertise across the continuum including; hospital, nursing home, home health, physician office and managed care settings.