27 Sep Generic Drug Discount Programs More Valued By Vulnerable Populations
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Song Hee Hong PhD
Associate Professor,
Health Outcomes and Policy Research
Dept. Clinical Pharmacy
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, TN 38163
Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Hong: Use of GDDP (generic drug discount programs) increased to 23.1% in 2010 from 3.6% of patients receiving any prescription drugs in 2007.
Generic drug discount programs were more valued among the elderly, sicker and uninsured populations.
The lower use of Generic drug discount programs among racial/ethnic minorities observed when the program was deployed no longer existed when the program matured.
Medical Research: What was most surprising about the results?
Dr. Hong: The elderly, sicker and uninsured populations who are likely to incur high prescription drug costs value savings in medication costs by taking advantage of Generic drug discount programs that allow them to get their prescription filled with a GDDP-eligible generic drug by paying small fees (i.e., $4 for 30 days supply).
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Hong: Clinicians and patients should be aware of options to save medication costs.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Hong: Future studies need to look at what generic drugs are included in the list of generic drug discount programs. Of interest is to examine ways to design an incentive structure so that the generic drug discount programs list could include popular generic drugs.
Citation:
Last Updated on November 4, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD