The High Cost-related Medication Non-adherence Rate Among Medicare-Medicaid Dual-Eligible Diabetes Patients.

CONTEXT

Access barriers to effective medication treatment have been a persistent issue for millions of older Americans despite the establishment of Medicare Part D.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess the prevalence rate of cost-related medication non-adherence (CRN) and the patterns of CRN behaviors in Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibles with diabetes.

DESIGN SETTING PATIENTS INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We used data from the 2011 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess CRN rate, controlling for demographics and types of Medicare Part D plans.

RESULTS

The CRN rate in dual-eligible diabetes patients was 21%, compared to 16% in non-dual-eligible diabetes patients (p<0.01). In 2011, the standardized prevalence rate of CRN in dual-eligible diabetes patients was 21%, of those with CRN 29% reported three or more types of CRN behaviors.

CONCLUSION

Contrary to the common belief that dual eligibles have better insurance coverage for medication due to the assistance from Medicaid to pay some of the out-of-pocket payments, the CRN rate among dual eligibles is high and patients often report multiple types of CRN behaviors. This demonstrates that cost is a significant access barrier for dual-eligible diabetes patients. More research is needed to improve the insurance benefit design and expand insurance coverage for this high-need, high-cost subpopulation.