ABSTRACT
From the standpoint of managed care, the rising cost of depression can be addressed in multiple ways. In the final portion of the roundtable discussion, the faculty discuss not only disease management programs for depression, but other initiatives health plans (including at the pharmacy level) are undertaking to address the rising costs associated with depression. They also discuss the effect of mental health coverage "parity" laws, which can be expected to drive costs even higher.
Subject(s)
Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Depressive Disorder/economics , Disease Management , Managed Care Programs/organization & administration , Mental Health Services/organization & administration , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Antidepressive Agents/economics , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Depressive Disorder/drug therapy , Formularies as Topic , Health Benefit Plans, Employee/standards , Humans , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/economicsABSTRACT
One of the most commonly utilized drug classes today is antidepressant therapy, which accounts for billions of dollars in spending. Pharmacoeconomic tools may play an influential role in formulary decision making, particularly in this drug class. In part 2 of the roundtable discussion, a pharmacoeconomic model is presented that may clarify the health economic effects of placing serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors on the drug formulary, particularly in the context of other antidepressant medications.
