Copayment reductions generate greater medication adherence in targeted patients

Health Aff (Millwood). 2010 Nov;29(11):2002-8. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2010.0571.

Abstract

A large value-based insurance design program offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina eliminated generic medication copayments and reduced copayments for brand-name medications. Our study showed that the program improved adherence to medications for diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and congestive heart failure. We found that adherence improved for enrollees, ranging from a gain of 3.8 percentage points for patients with diabetes to 1.5 percentage points for those taking calcium-channel blockers, when compared to others whose employers did not offer a similar program. An examination of longer-term adherence and trends in health care spending is still needed to provide a compelling evidence base for value-based insurance design.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Plans / organization & administration*
  • Cost Sharing / economics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medication Adherence*
  • North Carolina
  • Retrospective Studies