PharmaStrategies > Consumer Behavior

Extensive consumer research confirms that as co-payments increase, drug utilization decreases. Conversely, as co-payments decrease, drug utilization increases. The PharmaStrategies programs uses existing consumer behavior to improve the health and well-being of patients while increasing drug utilization.

From American Enterprise Institute:
"So what can this Committee do to help us prepare for this future of consumer led healthcare? I think one of the big impediments to more active participation by consumers is the lack of information--at the point of care--about the economic impact of peoples’ decisions. Far too often, I prescribe a medicine to a patient only to get a phone call a few hours later. They are at the pharmacy and found out there is a $50 co-pay on the medicine I prescribed. Can I find something else for them that does not have a co-pay. It is simply impossible for me to keep track of all of the different formularies from all of the different plans that all of my different patients are on."
http://www.aei.org/publications/filter.all,pubID.22541/pub_detail.asp

From HealthCare Economist:
"Most economists believe that increasing the price of an item will decrease demand for the item. Health care is no different from any other good. If you increase the copayment or coinsurance rate, people will consume fewer medical services. The famous RAND Health Insurance Experiment (HIE) demonstrated that higher coinsurance rates discourage medical care consumption."
http://healthcare-economist.com/2007/02/16/increase-copays-and-increase-medical-spending/