Elders Skimping on Prescriptions Not Just About Affordability

Many older adults are skipping, stopping, or not filling their prescriptions to cut costs (also known as cost-related nonadherence or CRN), but other factors influence these behaviors besides financial considerations.

This study, published in Value in Health, identified both nonfinancial and financial factors associated with CRN in a nationally representative sample of older adults.

Twenty percent of the respondents experienced some form of CRN prior to implementation of Medicare Part D. Noneconomic factors including depressive symptoms were associated with a higher likelihood of CRN in addition to financial indicators such as higher out-of-pocket prescription payments and lower net worth.

Increasing prescription medication costs and other cost pressures are influencing patients' inclinations to skimp on or forego their medications, which can be detrimental to their health. Although noncost factors likely also play a role, little is known about how they influence cost-related nonadherence to medications.

Says Dr. Kara Zivin, "When prescribing medications, providers should be aware that both non-economic and economic factors can influence patient nonadherence to medications, and they should tailor their prescribing practices and communication with patients about the importance of medication adherence accordingly."

— Source: International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research