Navigation Links
New Study Finds 1 in 4 Multiple Sclerosis Patients With High Out-of-Pocket Costs Not Filling Prescriptions
Date:6/17/2009

Avoiding medications may adversely affect patient care and increase health care costs

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- One in four multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are declining to fill their prescriptions likely due to high out-of-pocket costs, according to new research conducted by pharmacy benefits manager Prime Therapeutics (Prime). The study found that patients with an out-of-pocket expense greater than $250 were seven times more likely to decline to fill their prescription than patients with an out-of-pocket cost of $100 or less. The study concluded that this increase in the number of patients who decline to fill their MS specialty prescriptions and do not continue taking the necessary MS medications may adversely affect long term patient care.

According to the study, the majority of individuals had an out-of-pocket expense of $150 or less and their decline to fill rate was 5.8 percent. For individuals with an out-of-pocket expense of greater than $150 the decline to fill rate was 27.0 percent.

"Specialty pharmacy costs are rising and insurers are focusing on ways to best manage costs, including increasing out-of-pocket costs for members," said Patrick Gleason, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, lead author and Director of Clinical Outcomes Assessment at Prime Therapeutics. "Our research suggests members who pay high out-of-pocket costs are declining to fill their prescription. Patients who aren't taking their medications face serious medical and health complications, which could result in substantial medical or hospitalization expenses for both the patient and health insurer. Health insurers should consider member cost and the impact it has on adherence when designing specialty pharmacy benefits. "

Multiple sclerosis specialty medications (Avonex(R), Rebif(R), Betaseron(R) or Copaxone(R)) have a typical average wholesale price of $2,500 per month supply, $30,000 annually. Due to the potentia
'/>"/>

SOURCE Prime Therapeutics LLC
Copyright©2009 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related medicine news :

1. Study Shows Increases in Working After 65 and Using Commercial Insurance
2. Bariatric Advantage High Protein Meal Replacement Clinical Study Presented at European Congress on Obesity
3. AGH Joins Select Group of Medical Centers in Study of Promising New Technology for Treatment of Heart Failure
4. Study Refutes Depression Gene Finding
5. Providing health insurance for US children would be cheaper than expected, study says
6. Study finds autistics better at problem-solving
7. Cannabis alters human DNA -- new study
8. HPV Vaccine Acceptability Study Announces Results
9. MUHC researcher awarded $500,000 to study pathogenesis of infectious disease
10. HealthLeaders-InterStudy Launches Pharmacy Benefit Evaluator
11. Scientific Study Makes it Possible to Measure Connection Between People
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Other Medicine News:Health News:Academic Leader Joins Medical Management International Board of Directors 2Health News:Academic Leader Joins Medical Management International Board of Directors 3Health News:Hardened Arteries Threaten Obese, Diabetic Youth 2Health News:Hardened Arteries Threaten Obese, Diabetic Youth 3Health News:Compirion Healthcare Cuts Emergency Department Throughput by 50% at the Medical Center of Central Georgia 2Health News:Compirion Healthcare Cuts Emergency Department Throughput by 50% at the Medical Center of Central Georgia 3Health News:Compirion Healthcare Cuts Emergency Department Throughput by 50% at the Medical Center of Central Georgia 4Health News:Compirion Healthcare Cuts Emergency Department Throughput by 50% at the Medical Center of Central Georgia 5Health News:New Program Offsets Risks of 'Do-It-Yourself' Gestational Surrogacy 2Health News:NEJM study finds drug-eluting stents more effective than bare-metal stents in heart attack patients 2
Breaking Medicine Technology:The Army Awards Follow-On Contract for Autonomous Airway Management to Energid Technologies 2Phase III Study Demonstrates INVEGA(R) SUSTENNA(TM) (paliperidone palmitate) Statistically Similar to RISPERDAL(R) CONSTA(R) (risperidone) Long-Acting Injection 2Phase III Study Demonstrates INVEGA(R) SUSTENNA(TM) (paliperidone palmitate) Statistically Similar to RISPERDAL(R) CONSTA(R) (risperidone) Long-Acting Injection 3Phase III Study Demonstrates INVEGA(R) SUSTENNA(TM) (paliperidone palmitate) Statistically Similar to RISPERDAL(R) CONSTA(R) (risperidone) Long-Acting Injection 4Phase III Study Demonstrates INVEGA(R) SUSTENNA(TM) (paliperidone palmitate) Statistically Similar to RISPERDAL(R) CONSTA(R) (risperidone) Long-Acting Injection 5Phase III Study Demonstrates INVEGA(R) SUSTENNA(TM) (paliperidone palmitate) Statistically Similar to RISPERDAL(R) CONSTA(R) (risperidone) Long-Acting Injection 6Phase III Study Demonstrates INVEGA(R) SUSTENNA(TM) (paliperidone palmitate) Statistically Similar to RISPERDAL(R) CONSTA(R) (risperidone) Long-Acting Injection 7Phase III Study Demonstrates INVEGA(R) SUSTENNA(TM) (paliperidone palmitate) Statistically Similar to RISPERDAL(R) CONSTA(R) (risperidone) Long-Acting Injection 8Phase III Study Demonstrates INVEGA(R) SUSTENNA(TM) (paliperidone palmitate) Statistically Similar to RISPERDAL(R) CONSTA(R) (risperidone) Long-Acting Injection 9Phase III Study Demonstrates INVEGA(R) SUSTENNA(TM) (paliperidone palmitate) Statistically Similar to RISPERDAL(R) CONSTA(R) (risperidone) Long-Acting Injection 10China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2009 2China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2009 3China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2009 4China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2009 5China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2009 6China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2009 7China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2009 8Handwriting Skills May Lag in Kids With Autism 61014 1Handwriting Skills May Lag in Kids With Autism 61014 2Doctors Spending More Time Now With Patients 61011 1Doctors Spending More Time Now With Patients 61011 2Doctors Spending More Time Now With Patients 61011 3Fitness com au Poll Finds 80 25 Blame Parents For Our Overweight Kids 61009 1Fitness com au Poll Finds 80 25 Blame Parents For Our Overweight Kids 61009 2