How Medication Cost-Sharing Affects Resource Utilization in Children with Asthma

Greater patient drug costs slightly reduce medication use and increase asthma-related hospitalizations.

Efforts to control healthcare resource utilization by shifting the cost of medications to patients has been shown to reduce medication use but increase emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in adults. In a retrospective study of medical and pharmacy insurance claims from 1997 through 2008 from geographically diverse employer health plans, researchers examined the effect of out-of-pocket medication costs in 8834 children with asthma who required long-acting daily control medication. The percentage of days covered by asthma medication and rate of ED and hospital visits were recorded for 1 year in children <5 years and age 5 to 18 years.

Use of asthma control medications was low and covered a mean of 40% to 45% of days per year.…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

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Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

How Medication Cost-Sharing Affects Resource Utilization in Children with Asthma

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Reviewing Author