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Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on August 27, 2020
Medication non-adherence is a huge, costly and growing problem for plan sponsors.
Studies have consistently shown that 20 to 30% of medication prescriptions are never filled, and that approximately 50% of medications for chronic disease are not taken as prescribed.
Non-compliance can have serious health consequences, ranging from poorly managed symptoms to decreased quality of life and even death.
This health care issue might not get the attention that others do but its impacts for medication users – and payers – are significant.
Non-adherence not only affects health outcomes, it negatively impacts health plan benefits and the healthcare system at large.
One study found that non-adherence accounts for 5% of Canadian hospital admissions, 5% of physician visits and costs our healthcare system $4 billion annually. That’s not to mention the millions of dollars plan sponsors lose annually in in benefits costs, lost earnings, avoidable medical costs, and lost productivity.
Little wonder that medication non-adherence is called health care’s “elephant in the room” or Canada’s “other drug problem.” Another term to describe medication non-adherence could be “the silent killer” because of the number of people it affects (it’s the cause of 125,000 preventable deaths each year in the United States) with almost zero awareness.
The 2020 Sanofi Canada Healthcare Survey sheds light on what is an increasing concern for plan sponsors. Here are some of the survey’s key findings on medication management:
As the pharmacy benefits manager for nearly 3 million Canadians, medication adherence is a top-of-mind issue for our organization.
We recognize that taking medicine as prescribed is important for controlling chronic conditions, treating temporary conditions, and overall long-term health and wellbeing.
According to the World Health Organization, medication adherence can have a more direct impact on health outcomes than the specific treatment itself.
We also know that the reasons for non-adherence are as varied as plan members themselves.
That’s why our adherence support programs and tools are tailored to their unique profiles. Our adherence-focused solutions include:
Plan sponsors can make an important difference in addressing this issue by educating and encouraging members to members stay on-track of their medications. Communications with members can help them:
Contact your Medavie Blue Cross representative to learn more about the medication management solutions we have outlined in this blog.
For over 75 years, Medavie Blue Cross has been a leading health services partner for individuals, employers and governments across Canada. As the country’s leading Blue Cross plan with over one million card holders, we are a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits to...
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