A new UCLA study shows that patients who choose to use mail-order pharmacies demonstrated higher rates of adherence to their prescribed medications than those who used traditional pharmacies. Nearly 85% of mail-order pharmacy patrons took their medications as prescribed by their doctor, compared to 77% of traditional pharmacy patrons. As well, more people who used mail-order pharmacies chose to do so because of financial incentives (mail-order pharmacies are often able to offer very competitive prices, compared to traditional pharmacies). The researchers studied people with chronic diseases – diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure – which is important since management often requires lifelong pharmacotherapy. “Our findings indicate that mail-order pharmacies streamline the medication acquisition process, which is associated with better medication adherence,” said lead researcher, Dr. O. Kenrik Duru. [via Yahoo! News]
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Tags: blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, drug, drugs, hypertension, mail-order, medication, pharmaceutical, pharmacy, prescriptions, UCLA
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
January 15th, 2010 at 8:22 am
This “study” is another one of those that bears close scrutiny. It maybe the mail order requests and order filling is straight forward but, compliance of consumption is a bit more complicated. Mail order fraud is very difficult to detect when prescriptions are not follow upon with each patient. Joe may have a presciption from his doctor but Bob takes it because he has no doctor. Get my drift?
January 15th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I presently have CVS Caremark thru Home Depot.; I take about 26 pills a day for Diabetese, high blood pressure,Artheritis,seizures and no Cancer . If I did not have a mail away program I probably would be dead as I cannot afford these meds without the mail away. Femara my newest cancer pill is $200 for a 30 day supply. I pay $50 for a 3 month supply.I have a day pill box and a night pill box. It works. I just lost my job with Home Depot and when my coverage under the current program you pay for after you lose your job (Cobra),ends I am in trouble. I just found out that a lot of drug companies have free programs and I suggest every one who is in my shoes check into it. Thanks for your email, Elza Pisarro
January 26th, 2010 at 7:19 am
I currently have to pay for my own insurance so I try to save money wherever I can. I found this great website that has over 400 generic products that are very cheap compared to national retail brands. Its called ehealthsource.com and I am very happy with all my purchases so far. My diabetes testing supplies are of great quality and its comforting because all the products that can be found on that site are FDA approved. I have also purchases band-aids, cough medicine, and eye drops. They offer a 100% guarantee so if I am not happy, I can return my purchase, no problem. Just google, ‘ehealthsource’ and check it out!