PARTNER: REDUCING PATIENTS’ OUT-OF-POCKET DRUG COSTS
In the community…
Say pharmacists are credible information sources on prescription drug savings.
In policy…
Support pharmacists using their expertise to build on 2018’s “gag-clause” prevention law and identify other ways to lower patients’ costs.
National poll of 1,995 registered voters, conducted January 4-6, 2019, by Morning Consult and commissioned by NACDS (margin of error +/- 2%).
REDUCE COSTS
From helping patients take their medications effectively and safety to providing preventive services, community pharmacies provide high-quality healthcare services that prevents costly forms of healthcare down the line. Highly trusted by patients, community pharmacists help patients identify strategies to save money, such as understanding their pharmacy benefits, using generic drugs, and obtaining 90-day supplies of prescription drugs from their local community pharmacy.
Patients know their community pharmacies will help identify strategies to save money, trusting the advice of their local community pharmacist. Pharmacist interventions save downstream healthcare dollars, while improving patient health and outcomes.
Implementing beneficial policies – such as generic utilization, biosimilars, reforming DIR fees, improved medication adherence and medication therapy management – would reduce the cost of prescription drugs.
DIR fee reform and the movement towards a pharmacy quality incentive program will lower out-of-pockets costs for beneficiaries, make medicines more accessible, and improve medication optimization, thus leading to greater adherence and better health outcomes and lower overall healthcare costs.
In addition to DIR Fee reform, there are additional opportunities to achieve the goals of lowering the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs, while ensuring continuing patient access to their prescription medications and critical pharmacy services.
