Drug switching due to drug plan formulary restrictions can have a negative impact on the health of many older Americans, according to a survey released by Project Patient Care in Stratford, CT.
The survey found that 12% of all U.S. adults age 50 and older (translating to nearly 9 million people) last year were prescribed or switched to a less expensive drug due to formulary restrictions. Of those who were given a drug formulary substitution in the past year, 13% (an estimated 1.1 million people) report that the new drug was ineffective in treating their condition, and 22% of patients (an estimated 1.9 million people) say they experienced side effects from the new medication. Over half of the patients who took a substitute drug due to drug formulary substitutions (translating to approximately 4.6 million people) made extra phone calls or visits to their health care provider or made extra phone calls or trips to the pharmacy.
Survey findings suggest that greater attention should be given to the problems that can occur when drugs are substituted. Among the key findings:
- Twenty-three percent of health care providers agree that "drug formularies threaten the health of older Americans." Furthermore, 78% of health care providers feel that they should be the ones to decide which medications to prescribe to their patients.
- For patients who have had a drug formulary substitution in the past year, it cost an average of $58.50 per person in additional out-of-pocket spending. This could translate to a cost of over $500 million to older Americans per year.
The survey, conducted via telephone in April 2002 by Harris Interactive, included 1,001 adults age 50 and older who reported that they take prescription medication for at least one chronic condition and have health insurance. Harris Interactive also conducted a separate survey of primary health care providers and specialists who treat older adults.
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