Friday, September 03, 2004
Cutting prescription costs in half
[Randall S. Stafford, MD, PhD; and David C. Radley, BA, "The Potential of Pill Splitting to Achieve Cost Savings," The American Journal of Managed Care, August 2002.]
As the cost of prescription drugs increases, some cost-conscious consumers are learning to take advantage of a loophole. The price of many drugs, it seems, is based on pill count, not dosage. So, at a patient's request doctors can prescribe double-dosage pills and the patient can then split them in two. While there are significant cost savings, it is important to recognize that some medications are better suited to this method than others.
According to a study in The American Journal of Managed Care,
Our analysis has indicated that significant cost savings are possible through tablet splitting for a set of medications selected using explicit criteria. We recommend that physicians talk with patients, review their medications, work with them to assess whether pill splitting is a viable option, and use this strategy when it can be carried out safely. The cost savings from this underused practice are significant and, if implemented judiciously, this strategy presents an opportunity to reduce healthcare costs without compromising quality.
[Randall S. Stafford, MD, PhD; and David C. Radley, BA, "The Potential of Pill Splitting to Achieve Cost Savings," The American Journal of Managed Care, August 2002.]
As the cost of prescription drugs increases, some cost-conscious consumers are learning to take advantage of a loophole. The price of many drugs, it seems, is based on pill count, not dosage. So, at a patient's request doctors can prescribe double-dosage pills and the patient can then split them in two. While there are significant cost savings, it is important to recognize that some medications are better suited to this method than others.
According to a study in The American Journal of Managed Care,
Our analysis has indicated that significant cost savings are possible through tablet splitting for a set of medications selected using explicit criteria. We recommend that physicians talk with patients, review their medications, work with them to assess whether pill splitting is a viable option, and use this strategy when it can be carried out safely. The cost savings from this underused practice are significant and, if implemented judiciously, this strategy presents an opportunity to reduce healthcare costs without compromising quality.
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