
Managing Prescriptions Controls Costs
A new report finds that the US healthcare system could save more than $200 billion a year if prescription medications were more prudently administered.
A new
“Better use of medications won't solve our healthcare spending crisis, but it can help. What would really save us money, and improve our health, is preventing disease with a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr Howard LeWine, of Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. ”The biggest bang would come from beginning that in childhood and maintaining it throughout life, but starting at any time will help.”
Another recent study found that proper medication adherence in diabetes patients reduced the risk of hospitalization and emergency room visits. They also saw a reduction in treatment costs related to diabetes. The study,
Study authors Shou-Hsia Cheng, PhD, Chi-Chen Chen, PhD, and Chin-Hsiao Tseng, MD, PhD add that there are several options to improve medication adherence.
"We suggest that non-financial barriers to medication adherence might also be important for improving medication adherence for patients with diabetes. Increasing the patients’ health literacy (such as their awareness of the importance of adherence), enhancing the continuity of care between physicians and patients, and the development of a pay-for-performance program to promote medication adherence are some strategies for healthcare policy makers to consider," the authors wrote.
Although poor medication use represents less than 8% of what Americans spend on health care each year, it is still important to consider ways of reducing unnecessary spending.
We suggest that non-financial barriers to medication adherence might also be important for improving medication adherence for patients with diabetes. Increasing the patients’ health literacy (such as their awareness of the importance of adherence), enhancing the continuity of care between physicians and patients, and the development of a pay-for-performance program to promote medication adherence are some strategies for healthcare policy makers to consider. - See more at: http://www.ajmc.com/publications/issue/2013/2013-1-vol19-n8/does-medication-adherence-lead-to-lower-healthcare-expenses-for-patients-with-diabetes/4#sthash.iJBCzyRD.dpuf
Around the Web
Better use of medicines could save billions of dollars
Does Medication Adherence Lead to Lower Healthcare Expenses for Patients With Diabetes?
Newsletter
Stay ahead of policy, cost, and value—subscribe to AJMC for expert insights at the intersection of clinical care and health economics.