Tuesday, September 26, 20062
Patients' insurance affects clinical decision making
The uninsured tended to be prescribed more generic medications:
According to the survey, 88 percent of the doctors made at least one change in their patients' clinical management due to his or her insurance status. Overall, physicians changed management strategies for 99 of 409 patients. Nearly two-thirds (62.6 percent) of the time, doctors discussed insurance issues with patients and made changes based on insurance status.
Common changes in practice included prescribing two separate generic medicines instead of one brand-name combination pill, or using a less expensive but longer course of medication. Both strategies make it more likely that a patient will not keep up with the prescribed regimen, the researchers noted.
Comments
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NocturnalDoc
How is it surprising to people that docs prescribe generics more often when people lack insurance? Sure, if it is a longer course of treatment or if it is two pills instead of one, patients might be less compliant. But, prescribe a $150 drug course and you can guarantee they won't complete therapy. It is well established that a lot of people prioritize their Starbucks, cigarettes and liquor higher than prescription meds.
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Okulus
No, what usually happens is that the doctor gets a call from the patient's pharmacy, or from the patient while he is at the pharmacy, demanding an alternative prescription once the pharmacist tells him what the cost is going to be.
Post a Comment »I speak from the experience of being a practicing MD who has no health insurance. They don't offer us any. And what do I prescribe myself? Generics.
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