Impact of Pharmacy Channel on Adherence to Antihypertensive Medications and Healthcare Costs

This study evaluated antihypertensive medication therapy adherence based on prescription fill channel, retail or mail, and the subsequent healthcare costs among individuals with cardiovascular disease. The research reviewed medical and pharmacy claims from an integrated database between October 2005 and September 2007.

Higher adherence was demonstrated in the mail channel compared with the retail channel (retail 84.0% versus mail <60% at 87.2%, mail 60% to 80% at 90.9%, and mail >80% at 93.2%, P<0.05 for all mail vs. retail). Lowest total healthcare costs in year 2, October 2006 to September 2007, were seen with mail pharmacy usage >80% versus retail only (>80% mail; $10,509 vs. retail; 11,208 p<0.01)

In conclusion, using administrative claims data and controlling for age and illness burden of the study population; we found that a significant relationship exists between antihypertensive medication adherence and mail pharmacy channel usage. Cardiovascular patients who have a high illness burden and purchase their medications from a mail pharmacy channel have lower total healthcare costs.

Presented April 25, 2009, at the American Heart Association’s Ninth Scientific Forum on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular and Stroke (QCOR). More information about this study can be found in the attached clinical summary and abstract.

D. Pittman, G. Stettin, Z. Tao, R. Lulic, P. Juhn, I.S. Bhandari; Medco Health Solutions, Inc., Franklin Lakes, NJ.