Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2014 Feb 20:7:35-44.
doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S19801. eCollection 2014.

Adherence and health care costs

Aurel O Iuga  1 , Maura J McGuire  2
Affiliations
Review

Adherence and health care costs

Aurel O Iuga et al. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. .

Abstract

Medication nonadherence is an important public health consideration, affecting health outcomes and overall health care costs. This review considers the most recent developments in adherence research with a focus on the impact of medication adherence on health care costs in the US health system. We describe the magnitude of the nonadherence problem and related costs, with an extensive discussion of the mechanisms underlying the impact of nonadherence on costs. Specifically, we summarize the impact of nonadherence on health care costs in several chronic diseases, such as diabetes and asthma. A brief analysis of existing research study designs, along with suggestions for future research focus, is provided. Finally, given the ongoing changes in the US health care system, we also address some of the most relevant and current trends in health care, including pharmacist-led medication therapy management and electronic (e)-prescribing.

Keywords: adherence; compliance; cost; medication; nonadherence; noncompliance; patient.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Conceptual diagram displaying a mechanism that may contribute to the maintenance of the medication nonadherence problem within the US health care system.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Selected determinants of medication adherence.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, editor. NHE Projections 2010–2020. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2011.
    1. Kaiser Family Foundation, editor. Health care costs: a primer. [Accessed August 7, 2013]. Available from: http:www.kff.org/insurance/upload/7670-7603.pdf.
    1. Schroeder SA. Shattuck lecture. We can do better – improving the health of the American people. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(12):1221–1228. - PubMed
    1. The US Department of Treasury, editor. The 2012 annual report of the boards of trustees of the federal hospital insurance and federal supplementary medical insurance trust funds. 2012. [Accessed August 7, 2013]. Available from: http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/economic-policy/ss-medicare/Docu....
    1. Berwick DM, Hackbarth AD. Eliminating waste in US health care. JAMA. 2012;307(14):1513–1516. - PubMed