Centralized Prescribing for Statins

This pilot study consists of a pair of pragmatic clinical trials that will evaluate two separate methods for optimizing referral of eligible patients to a centralized pharmacy service for statin management: 1) A stepped wedge clinical trial, with randomization at the level of the provider, evaluating a visit-based nudge for referral to pharmacy services versus usual care; 2) A cluster randomized trial, with randomization at the level of the practice, evaluating a non-visit based nudge for referral to pharmacy services versus usual care.

For trial #1, the investigators will identify PCPs at a single practice with at least 10 patients on their panel who are eligible for but not yet prescribed high- or moderate-intensity statin medication. These physicians will be randomized in stepped-wedge fashion to usual care or to a nudge, delivered at the time of a scheduled office visit, to refer appropriate patients to centralized pharmacy services for initiation and/or titration of a statin medication. In trial #2, the investigators will identify PCPs at 12 practices with at least 10 patients on their panel who are eligible for but not yet prescribed high- or moderate-intensity statin medication. Practices will be randomized to usual care or to a non-visit-based nudge to refer appropriate patients to centralized pharmacy services for initiation and/or titration of a statin medication. It is estimated that 13 practices and 83 providers will be eligible to participate in the two trials. The invesitgators will run the intervention over a 9-month time frame.

The primary outcome is the prescription of a statin for eligible patients during the 9-month timeframe. Secondary outcomes will include the prescription of guideline-directed intensity of statin medications as well as statin pharmacy dispense rate. The investigators will also assess LDL control over the study period.

Inclusion criteria

• Primary Care Providers with at least 10 patients among their entire panel who meet the following criteria:
• Have a LGH PCP, AND
• 21-75 years old, AND
• An indication for high- or moderate-intensity statin, AND

• Pooled cohort risk equation 10-year ASCVD risk greater than 10%, OR
• diabetes mellitus, OR
• very high LDL-C > 190 mg/dL, OR
• familial hyperlipidemia, OR
• established ASCVD,
• Not currently on statin therapy, OR on low dose-statin therapy

Exclusion criteria

• Have an allergy to statins
• Severe renal insufficiency defined as glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 30 mL/min or on dialysis
• Adverse reaction to statins including statin-related a) myopathy; b) Rhabdomyolysis; c) hepatitis
• Pregnant
• Currently breastfeeding
• On hospice or at the end-of-life
• On a PCSK9 Inhibitor medication
• Physicians (and their respective patients) will be excluded if they have less than 10 patients among their entire panel that are eligible for a statin medication.