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2019-06-03
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Practice-Based Research
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Copyright (c) 2019 Melissa Jimenez, Goar Alvarez, Albert Wertheimer, Leanne Lai, Leroy Koh, Dainelys Martinez, Bushra Hijazi, Mark Weinstein
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright of content published in INNOVATIONS in pharmacy belongs to the author(s).
The Effect of Zero Copayments on Medication Adherence in a Community Pharmacy Setting
Melissa Jimenez
Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy
Goar Alvarez
Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy
Albert Wertheimer
Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy
Leanne Lai
Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy
Leroy Koh
Houston Methodist Hospital
Dainelys Martinez
Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy
Bushra Hijazi
Jordan University of Science and Technology College of Clinical Pharmacy
Mark Weinstein
Independent Colleges and Universities Benefits Association
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v10i2.1633
Abstract
Background: Prescription medication copayments can be a financial burden to many patients. When patients cannot afford their medications, they may become nonadherent, and as a result, this can lead to an increase in chronic disease complications and healthcare costs.
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if zero copayments have an effect on medication adherence in a community pharmacy.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined the prescription refill records of patients who filled specific generic medications for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in 2016 at the NSU Clinic Pharmacy. The adherence rates of patients with zero copayments were compared to the adherence rates of patients with copayments greater than $0. Adherence was determined by calculating the proportion of days covered (PDC). Patients were considered adherent if their PDC was greater than or equal to 80%.
Results: GERD patients with no copayments had average PDC ratios of 87.4% and were statistically significantly more adherent than GERD patients with copayments, who had average PDC ratios of 76.7% (P = 0.042). Hyperlipidemia and hypertension patients with no copayments had average PDC ratios of 89.3% and 90.3%, respectively, and those with copayments had PDC ratios of 85.3% (P = 0.314) and 87.9% (P = 0.534).
Conclusion: Overall, patients with $0 copayments had higher adherence rates than patients with copayments greater than $0. GERD patients with no copayments were significantly more adherent than GERD patients with copayments. However, no statistically significant difference was found between patients with or without copayments in the hyperlipidemia and hypertension cohorts. Further studies are recommended to analyze additional factors that may influence medication adherence.
Article Type: Original Research
