Express Scripts, a provider of pharmacy benefit management services, recently announced research showing significant benefits of adherence to diabetes medications.
"Medication adherence pays off in a meaningful way for patients, in both better health and lower total health care costs," Dr. Glen Stettin, senior vice president of clinical, research and new solutions at Express Scripts, said in a statement. "Continued efforts to improve medication adherence, particularly for diabetes, should be a priority for employers seeking to lower cost and improve care."
According to data, commercially insured people who remained adherent to their oral diabetes medications experienced fewer emergencies; these people had fewer hospital visits and spent nearly $500 less on total health care costs compared to patients who did not adhere to their medications.
"Payers, providers and patients have a substantial opportunity to reduce pharmacy and medical costs with an increased focus on the prevention of Type 2 diabetes, sustainable lifestyle modifications and greater adherence to diabetes medications," Stettin said. "At the Express Scripts Lab, we're partnering with more than 300 plans to test new solutions and address important issues in diabetes care, including the use of new technologies like connected glucometers, counseling by diabetes pharmacists, and our collaboration with Mango Health, whose mobile health platform is designed to unlock our members' good intentions and help them achieve better diabetes outcomes."
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