Abstract
Background: Many patients are burdened by prescription costs, yet it is not clear whether brand-named fixed-dose combination medicines are less expensive than the sum of the cost of their generic components. Methods: We used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a rigorously conducted, nationally representative, population-based survey, to examine the out-of-pocket and third party costs associated with the most commonly prescribed, brand-named fixed-dose combination antihypertensive drugs. We compared the out-of-pocket and third party cost for a 30-day supply of each of these combination drugs with the sum of these costs for their individual generic components. Results: Twenty-seven combination antihypertensive medicines were examined. Overall, combination products had higher out-of-pocket costs and lower total costs than did the sum of the costs of their components. For example, the out-of-pocket costs were greater for 24 of 27 combination drugs examined, and the mean increase in monthly out-of-pocket costs associated with combination therapy was $13.38 (95% confidence interval, $12.27-14.50). In contrast, the total cost was lower for 23 of the 27 combination drugs examined, and the mean decrease in monthly total costs was $20.89 (95% confidence interval, $20.10-21.68). Conclusions: Given patient burden and nonadherence from out-of-pocket prescription costs, the clinical benefits of brand-named fixed-dose combination antihypertensive therapy should be balanced with their greater out-of-pocket costs.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 509-513 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | American Journal of Hypertension |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Cite this
Out-of-pocket and total costs of fixed-dose combination antihypertensives and their components. / Rabbani, Atonu; Alexander, George Caleb.
In: American Journal of Hypertension, Vol. 21, No. 5, 05.2008, p. 509-513.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Out-of-pocket and total costs of fixed-dose combination antihypertensives and their components
AU - Rabbani, Atonu
AU - Alexander, George Caleb
PY - 2008/5
Y1 - 2008/5
N2 - Background: Many patients are burdened by prescription costs, yet it is not clear whether brand-named fixed-dose combination medicines are less expensive than the sum of the cost of their generic components. Methods: We used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a rigorously conducted, nationally representative, population-based survey, to examine the out-of-pocket and third party costs associated with the most commonly prescribed, brand-named fixed-dose combination antihypertensive drugs. We compared the out-of-pocket and third party cost for a 30-day supply of each of these combination drugs with the sum of these costs for their individual generic components. Results: Twenty-seven combination antihypertensive medicines were examined. Overall, combination products had higher out-of-pocket costs and lower total costs than did the sum of the costs of their components. For example, the out-of-pocket costs were greater for 24 of 27 combination drugs examined, and the mean increase in monthly out-of-pocket costs associated with combination therapy was $13.38 (95% confidence interval, $12.27-14.50). In contrast, the total cost was lower for 23 of the 27 combination drugs examined, and the mean decrease in monthly total costs was $20.89 (95% confidence interval, $20.10-21.68). Conclusions: Given patient burden and nonadherence from out-of-pocket prescription costs, the clinical benefits of brand-named fixed-dose combination antihypertensive therapy should be balanced with their greater out-of-pocket costs.
AB - Background: Many patients are burdened by prescription costs, yet it is not clear whether brand-named fixed-dose combination medicines are less expensive than the sum of the cost of their generic components. Methods: We used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a rigorously conducted, nationally representative, population-based survey, to examine the out-of-pocket and third party costs associated with the most commonly prescribed, brand-named fixed-dose combination antihypertensive drugs. We compared the out-of-pocket and third party cost for a 30-day supply of each of these combination drugs with the sum of these costs for their individual generic components. Results: Twenty-seven combination antihypertensive medicines were examined. Overall, combination products had higher out-of-pocket costs and lower total costs than did the sum of the costs of their components. For example, the out-of-pocket costs were greater for 24 of 27 combination drugs examined, and the mean increase in monthly out-of-pocket costs associated with combination therapy was $13.38 (95% confidence interval, $12.27-14.50). In contrast, the total cost was lower for 23 of the 27 combination drugs examined, and the mean decrease in monthly total costs was $20.89 (95% confidence interval, $20.10-21.68). Conclusions: Given patient burden and nonadherence from out-of-pocket prescription costs, the clinical benefits of brand-named fixed-dose combination antihypertensive therapy should be balanced with their greater out-of-pocket costs.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=42549137097&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=42549137097&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/ajh.2008.31
DO - 10.1038/ajh.2008.31
M3 - Article
C2 - 18437141
AN - SCOPUS:42549137097
VL - 21
SP - 509
EP - 513
JO - Journal of clinical hypertension
JF - Journal of clinical hypertension
SN - 0895-7061
IS - 5
ER -