title: The limitation of good intentions: prescribing medications for the uninsured.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: Todd D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Westberg
mesh_terms: D016527:Drug Costs; D004345:Drug Industry; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008483:Medical Assistance; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States