The limitation of good intentions: prescribing medications for the uninsured

Identifying affordable drug therapy options for individuals who lack prescription drug insurance is a problem frequently encountered by prescribers. Medication samples and manufacturer-sponsored assistance programs represent sources often used to address affordability issues. However, these sources...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of health care for the poor and underserved 2004-05, Vol.15 (2), p.152-160
Main Authors: Sorensen, Todd D, Song, John, Westberg, Sarah M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Drug Costs
Drug Industry
Drug Prescriptions - economics
Drug Prescriptions - statistics & numerical data
Drug therapy
Drugs
Health inequalities
Health Services Accessibility - economics
Health Services Needs and Demand
Humans
Medical Assistance
Medically Uninsured
Patient Compliance
Physician-Patient Relations
Prescribing
Prescriptions
Socioeconomic Factors
Treatment
Uninsured patients
Uninsured people
United States
USA
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Description
Summary:Identifying affordable drug therapy options for individuals who lack prescription drug insurance is a problem frequently encountered by prescribers. Medication samples and manufacturer-sponsored assistance programs represent sources often used to address affordability issues. However, these sources have the potential to introduce health disparities through various mechanisms, including reduced access to the drug of choice, consistencies with access, and drug regimen complexities that adversely affect adherence. Prescribers should consider all sources of affordable medications and openly discuss treatment options and the anticipated outcomes of each with patients to ensure the prescribing of agents that optimize outcomes while balancing patient affordability.
ISSN:1049-2089
1548-6869
DOI:10.1353/hpu.2004.0029