Availability of addiction medications in private health plans.
J Subst Abuse Treat
; 34(2): 147-56, 2008 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17499959
ABSTRACT
Health plans have implemented cost sharing and administrative controls to constrain escalating prescription expenditures. These policies may impact physicians' prescribing and patients' use of these medications. Important clinical advances in the pharmacological treatment of addiction highlight the need to examine how pharmacy benefits consider medications for substance dependence. The extent of restrictions influencing the availability of these medications to consumers is unknown. We use nationally representative survey data to examine the extent and stringency of private health plans' management of naltrexone and disulfiram for alcohol dependence, and buprenorphine for opiate dependence. Thirty-one percent of insurance products excluded buprenorphine from formularies, whereas 55% placed it on the highest cost-sharing tier. Generic naltrexone is the only substance dependence medication that is both rarely excluded from formularies and usually placed on a lower cost-sharing tier. These findings demonstrate that pharmacy benefits have an impact on access to medications for substance abuse.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Cobertura do Seguro
/
Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde
/
Seguro de Serviços Farmacêuticos
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Subst Abuse Treat
Assunto da revista:
TRANSTORNOS RELACIONADOS COM SUBSTANCIAS
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos