From The New York Times
By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press
August 28, 2019
EXCERPT
It’s the No. 1 reason patients don’t fill their prescriptions: sticker shock.
While the price of almost any good or service can be found online, most Americans don’t know what they’ll owe for a prescription medication until they get it. Unexpected costs contribute to the estimated 20 to 30 percent of prescriptions that are never filled, which can lead to health problems from untreated medical conditions.
“The best drug in the world isn’t going to be effective if the patient doesn’t take it,” said Dana Goldman, a health economist at the University of Southern California, whose research shows that patients have more trouble taking their medication as their costs rise. “Doctors need to think about, not just what’s clinically optimal, but what’s optimal given the patient’s financial circumstances.”
Last modified: August 28, 2019
