title: Prescription drug dispensing limits and patterns.
abstract: Dispensing limits, which ration prescriptions to 30-day supplies when filled at community pharmacies, is a strategy commonly used to control prescription drug costs. Yet, little is known about drug dispensing patterns. Prescription dispensing patterns may have important influences on adherence, therapeutic and preventive health outcomes, and costs. This study examined dispensing patterns for five drug classes commonly prescribed for chronic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Health Economics and Health Services Research, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco 94143, USA. kathryn@itsa.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Su-Ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stebbins
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Alldredge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003363:Cost Control; D003625:Data Collection; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010594:Pharmacies; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D014481:United States