Patient-provider communication regarding drug costsin Medicare Part D beneficiaries with diabetes: a TRIAD Study
Open Access
- 14 June 2010
- journal article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in BMC Health Services Research
- Vol. 10 (1), 164
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-10-164
Abstract
Little is known about drug cost communications of Medicare Part D beneficiaries with chronic conditions such as diabetes. The purpose of this study is to assess Medicare Part D beneficiaries with diabetes' levels of communication with physicians regarding prescription drug costs; the perceived importance of these communications; levels of prescription drug switching due to cost; and self-reported cost-related medication non-adherence. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey (58% response rate) of 1,458 Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes who entered the coverage gap in 2006; adjusted percentages of patients with communication issues were obtained from multivariate regression analyses adjusting for patient demographics and clinical characteristics. Fewer than half of patients reported discussing the cost of medications with their physicians, while over 75% reported that such communications were important. Forty-eight percent reported their physician had switched to a less expensive medication due to costs. Minorities, females, and older adults had significantly lower levels of communication with their physicians regarding drug costs than white, male, and younger patients respectively. Patients with < $25 K annual household income were more likely than higher income patients to have talked about prescription drug costs with doctors, and to report cost-related non-adherence (27% vs. 17%, p < .001). Medicare Part D beneficiaries with diabetes who entered the coverage gap have low levels of communication with physicians about drug costs, despite the high perceived importance of such communication. Understanding patient and plan-level characteristics differences in communication and use of cost-cutting strategies can inform interventions to help patients manage prescription drug costs.This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- Medicare Part D coverage gap and diabetes beneficiaries.2009
- Impact of Multitiered Copayments on the Use and Cost of Prescription Drugs among Medicare BeneficiariesHealth Services Research, 2007
- Medicare Coverage for Patients With Diabetes. A National Plan With Individual ConsequencesJournal of General Internal Medicine, 2006
- Status Report On Medicare Part D Enrollment In 2006: Analysis Of Plan-Specific Market Share And CoverageHealth Affairs, 2006
- Prescription Drug Coverage, Health, and Medication Acquisition Among Seniors With One or More Chronic ConditionsMedical Care, 2004
- Clinician identification of chronically ill patients who have problems paying for prescription medicationsAmerican Journal Of Medicine, 2004
- Six strategies to identify and assist patients burdened by out-of-pocket prescription costs.Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 2004
- How Different Is California? A Comparison Of U.S. Physician OrganizationsHealth Affairs, 2003
- Implications of the Diabetes Control and Complications TrialDiabetes Care, 2003
- AHA Guidelines for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke: 2002 UpdateCirculation, 2002