HOPE Center Study Shows Medication Adherence Associated with Lower Health Care Costs

(December 16, 2020)

College of Pharmacy and HOPE Center investigators DAVID RHYS AXON, PhD, MPharm, MS , TERRI WARHOLAK, PhD, RPh and doctoral student SHANNON VAFFIS, MPH co-authored a study recently published in the Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy titled Assessing the association between medication adherence, as defined in quality measures, and disease-state control, health care utilization, and costs in a retrospective database analysis of Medicare supplemental beneficiaries using statin medications. The researchers reviewed data from 77,174 Medicare beneficiaries taking statins and analyzed their medication adherence. Results indicate a statistically significant relationship between disease state control and medication adherence, with adherers experiencing lower rates of outpatient and inpatient visits than non-adherers. Adherent beneficiaries were shown to cause a reduction in total costs of $157.32 per member per month.

Co-authors also include College of Pharmacy Health & Pharmaceutical Outcomes Program alumni Patrick Campbell, PhD and Chanadda Chinthammit, PhD .