Chart of the Week General

Where Are the Real-time Tools for Drug Price Transparency?

Drug affordability causes some 20% of patients not to adhere to recommended pharmaceutical approaches

Among survey respondents, those reporting cost-related nonadherence were between ages 65 and 69, less likely to be college educated, and more likely to report lower incomes.
Cost-coping strategies that were reported included using copay cards or coupons, asking doctors for lower-cost alternatives, shopping around at different pharmacies, requesting samples, delaying medical care, and foregoing basic necessities.
Nearly all patients want accurate real-time tools and prices, but a number of barriers to implementation stand in the way: incomplete data; interoperability challenges between drug plan, insurer data, and electronic health records; and inadequate investment from health systems.