Cost-efficient treatment for uninsured or underinsured patients with hypertension, depression, diabetes mellitus, insomnia, and gastroesophageal reflux.
OBJECTIVE
As the number of uninsured and underinsured patients in the United States continues to rise, savvy nurse practitioners (NPs) must balance quality of care with cost of drugs. This article reviews evidence-based treatments in light of prescribing the most cost-efficient medications.


METHODS
Searches of electronic databases including MEDLINE, MEDLINEPlus, EBSCO, PubMed, CINAHL, Clinical Pharmacology, Biomedical Reference Collection--Basic, Health Source--Consumer Edition, Health Source--Nursing/Academic Edition, Ovid, and the Cochrane Library Online.


CONCLUSIONS
As the role of NP continues to evolve, it is important for NPs to establish themselves as economically conscious healthcare providers, striking a delicate balance between providing quality and cost-efficient care. An NP's familiarity with cost-efficient treatment options for common diagnoses such as hypertension, depression, diabetes mellitus, insomnia, and gastroesophageal reflux disorders can help ease the economic burden uninsured and underinsured patients endure, especially with respect to prescription drugs, and improve compliance with medication regimens.


CONCLUSIONS
NPs should acquire knowledge on how to best treat uninsured or underinsured patients in the most cost-efficient manner. Knowledge of prescription drug cost is one tool an NP can use to encourage patient compliance, improving the overall health of uninsured or underinsured individuals.
Luthy
Karlen E
KE
College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA. beth-luthy@byu.edu
Peterson
Neil E
NE
Wilkinson
Joey
J
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016527:Drug Costs; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000191:economics; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D018579:Patient Selection; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs