Tools that allow providers to see prescription cost estimates at the time of prescribing did not have any effect on cost, a study published July 3 in JAMA Network Open found.
The cohort study included 2.8 million Medicare Advantage beneficiaries at a national insurer. Researchers compared differences in prescription drug spending and fills in the year after practices adopted a real time prescription benefit drug tool.
Here are three things to know:
- The researchers found no significant difference between out-of-pocket spending or total prescription costs per beneficiary after their providers implemented real-time prescription benefit tools.
- Real-time prescription benefit tools did not increase the number of prescriptions filled via mail-order.
- The design of real-time prescription benefit tools with electronic health records may have discouraged clinicians from using the option, the researchers wrote. The tool in the study required clinicians to click a dropdown box to view cost information and alternatives.
The findings “highlight the importance of leveraging the design of price transparency tools like [real-time prescription benefits] to reduce barriers to accessing the information,” the authors concluded.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Boston-based Harvard Medical School and Humana.
Read the full report here.
At the Becker's 5th Annual Fall Payer Issues Roundtable, taking place November 2–3 in Chicago, payer executives and healthcare leaders will come together to discuss value-based care, regulatory changes, cost management strategies and innovations shaping the future of payer-provider collaboration. Apply for complimentary registration now.