This study aimed to identify the economic burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by comparing mean annual IBD-related medical costs and events for MassHealth members before and after ustekinumab initiation.
Our Work

This research evaluated whether the initiation of dupilumab, a biologic indicated for asthma, reduced asthma-related emergency department visits or hospitalizations, the number of asthma rescue medications used, and the total cost of asthma-related exacerbations among MassHealth members
This research aimed to estimate the annual prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) among MassHealth members using claims data.
This research assesses the use of prescription stimulants (commonly used for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy, and excessive daytime sleepiness) in the Massachusetts Medicaid (MassHealth) population. The research investigated the average doses, member age, diagnoses, and medication formulations.
In light of the need to increase access to behavioral health (BH) services, particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation commissioned a study from experts at Commonwealth Medicine to assess the need for a BH consultation program designed to help primary care providers (PCPs) support adult patients with mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
Work Without Limits Benefits Counselor Brian Forsythe recorded a series of videocasts at the VA Bedford Healthcare System to answer questions about Social Security disability benefits, Medicare, SNAP, public housing, and how these and other public benefits interact with veterans’ benefits.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), enacted in March 2021, includes many provisions specific to state health care policy and programs. This issue brief, developed for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts, examines ARPA’s impact on the Massachusetts health care system – MassHealth coverage and services, subsidized health insurance through the Health Connector, health care workforce issues, and more – and poses questions for policy makers to consider in trying to create long-lasting impact from these time-limited funding boosts.
Open access methods provide timely behavioral health care services to patients, and can improve staff productivity and increase financial stability for provider organizations who use a proven model. A study conducted by Commonwealth Medicine behavioral health experts Carol Gyurina, Lisette Victoriano, and Jeffrey Walter for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation uncovered the experience of provider organizations using this model in Massachusetts, highlighting key factors for success
An evaluation of the utilization of two pre-exposure prophylaxis therapies, emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Truvada®) and emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (Descovy®), among a MassHealth population.
At the recent Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health Conference, our experts presented preliminary results of the MassHealth Behavioral Health for Justice-involved Individuals Initiative (BH-JI), a sustainable model for engaging justice involved individuals with mental health and addiction needs.
New drugs are coming to market faster than ever. For many patients, new pharmaceutical therapies represent the potential for life-changing impact. Yet uncertain uptake of these often high-cost specialty drugs poses a significant risk for pharmacy budgets. To protect you from surprises, Commonwealth Medicine pharmacists and data analysts provide expert Budget Impact Forecasting.
The FQHC network was dissatisfied with the results provided by a survey vendor, both in terms of response rates and the presentation of results. The network contracted with Commonwealth Medicine to administer its annual patient experience surveys starting in 2018.
Research shows a connection between oral health and overall wellness. To improve access to oral health care, more than 78 percent of Massachusetts Community Health Centers (CHCs) offer direct dental services at approximately 58 state-wide locations. Adequate staffing and expertise are critical to providing care. However, little is known about the recruitment and retention of the vitally important dental workforce. Commonwealth Medicine designed and implemented a survey in 2018 to understand the motivators and barriers that influence the recruitment and retention of the dental workforce at CHCs.
Providing at-risk populations with access to permanent housing also improves their access to medical and mental health services while reducing overall health care costs. That is among the key findings in this report by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts, prepared in part by Research & Evaluation experts at Commonwealth Medicine.
Commonwealth Medicine's newborn screening experts have developed an algorithm that can be used to tell when a newborn's genotype may need to be retested. Learn more about this formula, which can determine when alleleic dropout has occurred, and find out why this practice could be vital for newborn screening programs across the country in this presentation.
A pilot project in Worcester focused on reducing racial inequities and better-supporting children in early education settings who have experienced trauma shows significant results, suggesting a new model that could be adopted in early education settings across the state and country.
In this presentation, Stephanie Tran, PharmD, clinical consultant pharmacist, explains how a retrospective compounding monitoring program demonstrated a reduction in per member per year spend through the placement of select high-cost compounding ingredients on prior authorization.
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that is estimated to affect 5 - 21 million people in the United States. In this report, Pavel Lavitas, PharmD, BCPS, discusses findings from the Clinical Pharmacy Services pipeline monitoring team which was observing the results of a trail for a new treatment for the disease.
Director of Child and Family Policy Audrey Smolkin discusses interventions to promote children's resilience to minimize the long-term effects of trauma.
The federal “public charge” rule is causing many non-citizens to avoid treatment for potentially serious health issues—including COVID-19. This report, co-authored by CWM Health Law and Policy experts, examines the rule’s impact on non-citizens and the Mass. health care system.
Karen Clements, senior project director, Research and Evaluation, co-authored this poster on providing Medicaid populations with access to advanced hep C treatments which was nominated for best poster at the recent Academy Health 2020 Annual Research Meeting.