,,,When Drug Cost-Sharing Increases, Patients Newly Diagnosed with a Chronic Illness Delay Starting Medication

When Drug Cost-Sharing Increases, Patients Newly Diagnosed with a Chronic Illness Delay Starting Medication


 

Publication Date: January 2009

Publisher: RAND Corporation

Author(s): Matthew D. Solomon; Dana P. Goldman; Geoffrey F. Joyce; Jose J. Escarce

Research Area:

Type: Brief

Abstract:

Describes a study showing that increasing copayments for prescription drugs causes patients newly diagnosed with hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes to delay starting treatment, which in turn increases their risk for heart attack and stroke.