Pharmacy support to improve medicine use after hospital discharge for low-income adults
Official title: Study Title: Pharmacy-led Transitions of Care Intervention to Address System-Level Challenges and Improve Medication Adherence in Low-Income Populations
Funded at University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr · NIH-11290390 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program offers pharmacy-led help—like free medications, bedside and home delivery, and coaching—to help low-income adults with chronic conditions take their medicines after leaving the hospital.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | July 6, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $700,020 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD018174-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11290390 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults age 21 and older with low income (Medicaid or uninsured) who have multiple chronic conditions and are being discharged from the hospital are the primary candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who already have stable pharmacy access and affordable medications, those not recently discharged from a hospital, or those outside the program's service area may not see benefit.
What this research studies
If I'm a low-income adult leaving the hospital, pharmacists and trained pharmacy technicians would help me get and manage my medicines. The program may provide full subsidies for essential medications, bedside dispensing at discharge, and home delivery afterward, plus coaching to address costs, transportation, and care coordination barriers. It focuses on adults (21+) with multiple chronic conditions who are Medicaid-insured or uninsured, including many African American patients in the Memphis area. Researchers will follow medication fills, adherence, and readmissions to see whether these services improve post-discharge medication use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help people take their medicines more reliably after discharge, lower hospital readmissions, and reduce health risks tied to missed medications.
How similar studies have gone: The team's pilot showed feasibility and possible improvements using full medication subsidy and pharmacy coaching, while prior medication-reconciliation programs alone often failed to improve adherence.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Surbhi, Satya — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Surbhi, Satya
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.