New York Patients Are Being Forced Off Prescribed Medications During the Plan Year, Providing A Need for New Legislation to Fix the Problem
"What many people in
While consumer fairness is a main concern, patients and providers argue non-medical switching is harmful to patient health and undermines providers’ efforts to do what’s best for their patients. The survey found that nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of
Medication Switching Disrupts Care and Leads to
- 54% of respondents had to try multiple medications before finding another medication that worked for them.
- 72% reported that their new medication, after being switched, worked somewhat or much worse than the original prescribed medication
- 51% experienced side effects after switching to a new medication
- 93% of those who experienced side effects reported that they were worse compared to previous side effects, with 50% saying they were much worse
- 35% reported seeing their healthcare provider or going to the emergency room due to complications following a switch to a new medication and 10% reported being hospitalized.
“We believe that as New Yorkers, we deserve the medical coverage that we chose and that our access to vital treatments should be protected in order for us to lead the most productive lives possible," said
Beyond the health and cost implications, the survey found one third (33 percent) of all respondents reported never receiving notifications from their insurer (letters, emails or phone calls) detailing their plan’s midyear formulary changes or modifications being made to their health plan coverage. Instead, more than half (52 percent) learned of changes from their pharmacist, and a small percentage (8 percent) was informed by their physician.
Organizations supporting non-medical switching legislation in
An executive summary and infographic detailing additional survey results is available on the GHLF website at https://creakyjoints.org/advocacy/new-york-patient-sentiment-toward-non-medical-drug-switching/. The advocacy groups plan to continue their outreach efforts to educate patients, providers and lawmakers on the harmful impact of non-medical switching.
About the Survey
In February and
A diverse sample of 219
About
The
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180501005475/en/
Source:
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