Olga S. Matlin, PhD

The authors found that comorbidity burden and the direction of behavioral change influence the relationship between adherence and medical spend. This could affect the cost-benefit considerations of medication adherence programs.

Evaluation of a national retail pharmacy automatic refill program for patients on medication for chronic disease demonstrated significantly improved patient adherence and reduced medication oversupply.

Initial medication filling during the first 2 to 4 months following initiation of a statin strongly predicted adherence patterns during the following year.

Quality of care for 3 conditions, based on widely accepted objective measures, was superior in MinuteClinics compared with ambulatory care facilities or emergency departments.

Retail clinic use is associated with lower overall total cost of care based on a matched-pair analysis.