Medication adherence and health care costs associated with biologics in Medicaid-enrolled patients with psoriasis

Abstract

Background: Costs and patients' adherence related to biologics are important factors to consider while making informed decisions regarding therapy with biologics in psoriasis management.

Objective: To examine predictors of adherence related to biologics, total health care costs, and service utilization among psoriasis patients.

Methods: This was a longitudinal cohort study of psoriasis patients (<65 years old) enrolled in North Carolina Medicaid who were prescribed biologics (alefacept, efalizumab, and etanercept). Patients' medication adherence, health care costs, and service utilization patterns in the pre- and post-biologics period were examined.

Results: Adherence to biologics was significantly higher compared with the other psoriasis medications (0.66 vs 0.39; p<0.001). Prescription costs were significantly higher in the post-biologics period (3796.77 US dollars vs 11,706.32 US dollars; p<0.001). However, total health care costs in the post-biologics period did not differ significantly from the pre-biologics period (14,662.22 US dollars vs 16,156.10 US dollars; p>0.05). Patients' adherence and health care costs did not differ significantly across the biologics. After controlling for other variables, patients had a significantly lower number of hospitalizations in the post-biologics period (p<0.001).

Conclusions: Although costs associated with prescriptions for biologics were higher, total health care costs did not differ significantly in the post-biologics period. Biologics had a better adherence rate compared with other psoriasis medications.