Take-Away Points

Analysis of healthcare claims data from 45 large employers showed that generic prescribing was associated with both increases and decreases in medication adherence as well as no effect, depending on the study condition (hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, seizure disorders, or type 2 diabetes).

* Copayments of $0 were a more consistent predictor of increased adherence.
* Cost-related nonadherence and associated negative consequences will likely increase if pharmacy benefits are constructed in such a way as to promote generics without consideration of copayments.

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• Quantify the current risk to their organization in order to deploy focused incentives for behavior change and measure results;
• Measure emerging risks among those with chronic disease and create incentives to reduce or delay more critical and (financially catastrophic) phases of illness; and
• Design incentives to keep the healthy population at low risk.

She concludes by telling executives, “The bottom line is that a healthy employee is a competitive business advantage.”

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