Decreasing Drug Costs for Your Patients: Tools for Success

Prescription drug costs continue to soar. Unfortunately, so does the number of uninsured and underinsured patients. This combination can make it difficult for patients to afford their medications and be adherent to their prescribed regimens. Providers must be cognizant of the medications they prescribe to ensure that the most efficacious yet costeffective options are chosen. Several tools are available for providers to help decrease drug costs for their patients, including using non-drug therapy, conducting thorough drug regimen reviews, using generic medications, splitting pills, using combination products, and using drug discount plans and pharmaceutical company assistance programs.