High Out-of Pocket Costs Limits Access to Lifesaving Specialty Drugs

Source: Penn Medicine News, March 30, 2016 Two new studies led by Jalpa Doshi have found evidence that cost-sharing arrangements are associated with significant reductions in access to specialty drugs. Both papers are published online in the American Journal of Managed Care. In the first study, the team conducted a review of the literature and found evidence that high out-of-pocket costs were generally associated with lower use of specialty drugs. In the second study, the team examined Medicare claims data and found that “Part D” (prescription drug plan) co-insurance policies for specialty drugs seem to be reducing or delaying use of a lifesaving class of leukemia therapies.