title: Prescription drug spending trends for the privately insured in Maryland, 2000-2001.
abstract: Out-of-pocket drug spending per patient rose 25 percent in 2001 for the privately insured nonelderly in Maryland, outpacing the 10 percent increase in total drug spending per patient. Prescription drug use patterns changed little in response to a 30 percent rise in copayments, with the number of prescriptions per patient decreasing by 3 percent, and the proportion of generic drugs remaining steady. About 23 percent of patients spent less than 50 dollars on drugs in 2001, while 21 percent spent more than 700 dollars. Findings suggest that a greater proportion of the economic burden of prescription drugs in coming years will be borne by those who use them.
authors.affiliation: Center on Drugs and Public Policy at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, USA. fshaya@rx.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Fadia T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Shaya
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blume
authors.forename: C Daniel
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Mullins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D008875:Middle Aged; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000191:economics; D017149:Private Sector
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations