Effect of Medication Copayment on Adherence and Discontinuation in Medicare Beneficiaries with Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Administrative Claims Database Analysis
Date
2018Journal
Diabetes TherapyPublisher
Springer HealthcareType
Article
Metadata
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Introduction: Nonadherence to antihyperglycemic agents (AHAs) increases the incidence of morbidity and mortality, as well as healthcare-related costs, in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study examined the association between medication copayment and adherence and discontinuation among elderly patients with T2D who use generic versus branded AHAs. Methods: A retrospective, observational cohort study used Medicare administrative claims data (index period: 1 June 2012 to 31 December 2013). Drug copayments were measured as the copayment of the index medication for a 30-day supply after patients met their plan deductible. Patients were stratified into a branded or generic cohort based on the index medication. Adherence was measured by the proportion of days covered (? 80%) and discontinuation by a treatment gap of > 60 days in 10 months during the follow-up period. Poisson regressions were conducted for medication adherence and discontinuation, while controlling for demographic, clinical, and comorbid conditions. Results: Overall, 160,250 patients on AHA monotherapy were included in the analysis; 131,594 (82%) were prescribed a generic and 28,656 (18%) a branded AHA with a mean copay of $6 and $41, respectively. Increases in copayment increased nonadherence and discontinuation for branded medications but not for generic AHA medications. In both cohorts, elderly patients (≥ 75years of age) had a lower risk of nonadherence and discontinuation. Black patients had a higher risk of nonadherence or discontinuing medication. Patients having more frequent inpatient, emergency room, and/or physician visits were at higher risk of nonadherence or discontinuing therapy in the branded and generic cohorts (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The impact of drug copayment on adherence and discontinuation varied considerably between branded and generic AHAs. Medicare patients taking branded AHAs had a higher risk of nonadherence with increasing copayment and were more likely to discontinue medication, whereas this association was not observed in patients taking generic medications. Funding: Merck & Co, Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA. Plain Language Summary: Plain language summary available for this article. Copyright 2018, The Author(s).Sponsors
Editorial Assistance. Editorial support for development of this manuscript was provided by Alan J. Klopp, PhD, and Lisa Callan, PhD, at C4 MedSolutions, LLC (Yardley, PA), a CHC Group company, and was funded by Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.Identifier to cite or link to this item
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85054152396&doi=10.1007%2fs13300-018-0489-y&partnerID=40&md5=11ecf47e80f352184293cbe4bcd5474e; http://hdl.handle.net/10713/9139ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1007/s13300-018-0489-y