Justin Monger of MedSure Systems on What is Medicine Management?

Justin Monger, founder of MedSure Systems, who spent over three decades in national defense engineering, business development, and executive management at Hughes Aircraft and Raytheon, transitioned into healthcare due to a deeply personal experience. He witnessed his older sister’s lifelong struggles with addiction and mental health issues, which ultimately led to her early demise. This personal connection fueled his desire to address medication non-adherence, a problem he realized didn’t require a complex “iPhone invention” to significantly impact.

What is Medicine Management?

Medicine management, as explained by Monger, involves multiple aspects. It begins with ensuring all medications have been “adjudicated and reconciled” to prevent drug interactions. Crucially, it also focuses on ensuring patients take “the right med at the right time each day,” which is essential for chronic care management.

The Alarming Impact of Medication Non-Adherence

The scope of medication non-adherence in the U.S. is staggering. Approximately 70% of individuals aged 65 and over manage two or more chronic diseases, often requiring complex medication regimens. However, about 50% of the time, people in this country either don’t take the correct medications at the right time or don’t take them at all.

The financial toll of this issue is massive, estimated at around $345 billion annually in avoidable hospitalization and recovery costs. Beyond the monetary impact, medication non-adherence contributes to 120,000 to 150,000 premature and unnecessary deaths each year. Furthermore, hospitals and doctors face fines of $25 to $35 billion annually when patients are readmitted within 30 days, with medication management being a significant contributing factor.

An Innovative Approach

Traditional solutions, like the common Sunday-through-Saturday pill organizers, have proven ineffective in solving this widespread problem. MedSure Systems tackles this challenge with a unique combination of “digital intervention” (e.g., beeps, texts, timers) and “relational care” or human intervention. This dual approach has led to remarkable results, with MedSure achieving “well over 95% med adherence across the board”.

A key aspect of MedSure’s service is addressing the two primary reasons people miss medications: forgetting or running out of refills. MedSure Systems networks pharmacies, doctors, patients, and caregivers to track refills and ensure patients never run out of their necessary medications. They even facilitate doctor visits if required before a refill can be issued.

The “Home Pharmacy Rule” and Strip Packs

To enhance safety and adherence, Justin strongly advocates for the “home pharmacy rule,” encouraging patients to have all their prescriptions processed through a single pharmacy. This allows the pharmacist to identify potential drug interactions and organize the entire medication regimen.

Additionally, MedSure’s partner pharmacies provide medications in “strip packs” or pouches, with each pouch containing all the pills needed for a specific time of day. These strip packs are shipped directly to the patient’s home monthly, eliminating the need for pharmacy visits. This also includes the ability to ship controlled substances in these strip packs, a rare capability among pharmacies. Supplements and vitamins can also be included in these personalized pouches.

Impact on Caregivers and Physicians

MedSure’s service has been a “godsend” for caregivers, particularly unpaid caregivers who often face immense stress. Through the MedSure app, caregivers can monitor whether their loved ones have taken their medications, alleviating a significant burden.

Physicians also benefit from MedSure’s technology. They have direct access to a portal where they can view a patient’s compliance record in “near real time”. This information is invaluable during patient check-ups, helping doctors determine if medication adherence is a factor in a patient’s health status.

A Mission-Driven Company

For Justin Monger, MedSure Systems is more than just a business; it’s a “mission-driven company”. The profound impact on individuals and families, like the testimonial from Waikina Robinson about her 86-year-old father, reinforces his commitment. Robinson highlighted how the pre-filled packaging and direct delivery eliminated her struggles with organizing her father’s pills and ensuring he took them.

Monger emphasizes the importance of personalization, recognizing that not all patients require the same level of intervention. MedSure customizes its program to each individual’s comfort and effectiveness, a crucial differentiator from purely electronic solutions.

Lessons Learned and Future Outlook

Monger’s key advice for aspiring innovators in healthcare is to consider all stakeholders: the pharmacy, doctor, patient, and caregiver. By understanding their pain points and involving them in the solution’s development, the most effective product can be created.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recognized the severity of medication non-adherence and, about three years ago, began reimbursing for medicine management services, modeling it after remote patient monitoring. This is a critical step, as over 10,000 people turn 65 daily, and 70% of them will have a complex medication regimen, signaling a growing wave of healthcare costs.

MedSure Systems continues its work to reach the millions of people who struggle with medication management. Justin Monger attributes his courage and ability to persevere through the challenges of starting a company to the unwavering support of his family and his faith.

MedSure Systems received IDA’s Innovation Award in 2023 for their dedication to leveraging technology to make a profound difference in the lives of individuals with invisible disabilities, ensuring they feel supported and not abandoned.