The administrative burden of medication affordability resources: an environmental scan with implications for health informatics to advance health equity

Abstract

Objective: To characterize and demonstrate how to reduce the administrative burden experienced by patients when navigating medication affordability resources in the United States.

Materials and methods: Informed by administrative burden theory, we conducted an environmental scan of medication affordability resources for atrial fibrillation, and four common comorbidities (diabetes, heart failure, hypertension, and lipid disorder). We systematically searched for resources (eg, patient assistance programs, savings cards and nonprofit support) and extracted information about types, eligibility criteria, needed documentation, and application processes.

Results: We identified 66 resources across 12 categories across the five conditions. The resources' varied eligibility criteria, application processes, and requirements for providing sensitive financial documents could introduce multiple administrative costs for patients.

Discussion: The volume and complexity of medication affordability resources and related application processes may create substantial administrative burden for patients that could prevent their use-especially when prescribed multiple medications.

Conclusion: Medication affordability resource informatics tools that reduce administrative burden could advance equitable medication access.

Keywords: consumer health informatics; cost of illness; healthcare disparities; medication adherence; social determinants of health.

Figure 1.

Three search strategies for medication affordability resources.

Figure 2.

Categorization of medication affordability resources and range of eligibility criteria of pharmaceutical manufacturers’ patient assistance programs’.

Figure 3.

Medication affordability resource informatics tool for advancing health equity.^,