Prescription co-pay reduction program for diabetic employees.
Popul Health Manag
; 13(5): 235-45, 2010 Oct.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20879904
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to examine the impact of reducing the prescription co-pay for diabetes medications on pharmacy utilization, medication adherence, medical utilization, and expenditures. The co-pay reduction involved placing all diabetic drugs and testing supplies on the lowest co-pay tier for one employer group. The sample comprised members with diabetes who were both continuously enrolled in the 12-month pre period and the 2 years following co-pay reduction. Measured outcomes included diabetic prescription utilization, medication adherence, medical utilization, and expenditures. Generalized estimating equations for repeated measures were used to estimate differences between the pre period and years 1 and 2, while adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidity risk. Diabetic prescription utilization and medication adherence increased by approximately 3.0% in year 1 and dropped in year 2. The increases were primarily in brand name diabetes medications, which increased by approximately 5%, while generic use decreased in both years. Decreases in emergency room visits and hospitalizations were also observed in both years, followed by a decrease in health care expenditures in year 2. Adherent members experienced greater decreases in emergency room visits following the co-pay reduction compared to nonadherent members. After the implementation of a co-pay reduction, a modest increase in adherence and use of diabetes medications was observed. There were some compensatory cost savings for the employer from lower medical expenditures in year 1. In addition to financial strategies, additional strategies to reinforce medication adherence are needed to gain and sustain more meaningful increases in prescription utilization.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Desenvolvimento de Programas
/
Diabetes Mellitus
/
Medicamentos sob Prescrição
/
Benefícios do Seguro
/
Seguro de Serviços Farmacêuticos
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Evaluation_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Popul Health Manag
Assunto da revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
/
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos