Copay Amounts Have Significant Impact on Cardiovascular Medication Adherence

June 22

People with higher copays are significantly less likely to adhere to their commonly prescribed cardiovascular medications than those with low copays, according to a study published this month in JAMA Network Open. Utibe R. Essien, M.D., the study’s lead author, tells AIS Health the variations in adherence based on copays are “striking” and could have broader implications if some of the drugs are approved for obesity as expected and become even more widely used.

Utibe adds that people who do not take these drugs could have serious medical complications, leading to more of a health burden for them and financial burden for payers due to the high costs associated with hospitalizations, emergency room visits and other expenses.

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Radar on Drug Benefits

Tim Casey

Tim has been a reporter and editor for newspapers, websites and magazines for more than 20 years, including 10 years covering health care business topics. He has a deep knowledge of the managed care industry and pharmacy benefit management. He also has experience covering medical conferences and clinical and legislative health care issues. In 2014, the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing selected Tim as one of 15 journalists to participate in a national symposium on the Affordable Care Act. Tim has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University.