Prescription drug costs as a reason for changing physicians.
The authors conducted a telephone survey of 200 patients who had recently transferred their health care to a Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center. Of the study patients, 56% considered prescription drug costs to be the main reason or a major contributing reason for transfer (95% confidence interval 49% to 63%). The mean out-of-pocket prescription drug cost for these patients was $139 per month, compared with $47 per month for patients for whom drug costs were a minor reason or not a reason at all (p < 0.001). Drug costs are a principal reason for patients to transfer their health care to the VA.
Lederle
F A
FA
Department of Medicine, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Minnesota 55417.
Parenti
C M
CM
D000368:Aged; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011306:Prescription Fees; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs