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Prescription drug co-payments and cost-related medication underuse

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  • WAGNER, TODD H.
  • HEISLER, MICHELE
  • PIETTE, JOHN D.

Abstract

Co-payments have been linked to the slowing growth in pharmaceutical spending over the last five years. However, patients with health problems frequently have difficulty affording their pharmacotherapy and fail to take their medication as prescribed. We examine the relationship between co-payment amounts and four types of cost-related underuse: taking fewer doses, postponing taking a medication, failing to fill a prescription at all, and taking medication less frequently than prescribed. We conducted a nationwide survey of US adults age 50 and over who take medication for a chronic condition. Participants provided information on 17 chronic conditions, medication they take for those conditions, and whether they underused any medication due to cost. We analyzed those who reported paying co-payments for their prescriptions (n = 2,869). Analysis involved multivariate logistic regression, with adjustments for survey weights and clustering. Our data show a strong positive association between co-payments and cost-related medication underuse. Although people differ in how they underuse medications, these behaviours are strongly associated with co-payment amount. Realigning the co-payments with cost-effectiveness data, also known as value-based insurance design, warrants further investigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Wagner, Todd H. & Heisler, Michele & Piette, John D., 2008. "Prescription drug co-payments and cost-related medication underuse," Health Economics, Policy and Law, Cambridge University Press, vol. 3(1), pages 51-67, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:hecopl:v:3:y:2008:i:01:p:51-67_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Magda Wladysiuk & Aleksander Araszkiewicz & Brian Godman & Katarzyna Szabert & Corrado Barbui & Alan Haycox, 2011. "Influence of patient co-payments on atypical antipsychotic choice in Poland," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 9(2), pages 101-110, March.
    2. Nunes, Alexandre Morais & Ferreira, Diogo Cunha & de Matos, Andreia & Julião, Rui Miranda, 2020. "The Portuguese generic medicines market: What’s next?," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(4), pages 397-403.
    3. Goldsmith, Laurie J. & Kolhatkar, Ashra & Popowich, Dominic & Holbrook, Anne M. & Morgan, Steven G. & Law, Michael R., 2017. "Understanding the patient experience of cost-related non-adherence to prescription medications through typology development and application," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 51-59.
    4. Fraeyman, Jessica & Symons, Linda & De Loof, Hans & De Meyer, Guido R.Y. & Remmen, Roy & Beutels, Philippe & Van Hal, Guido, 2015. "Medicine price awareness in chronic patients in Belgium," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(2), pages 217-223.

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