Bridging the gap: enhancing medication adherence for better health outcomes

Did you know 40% to 50% of patients are non‑adherent to their medications for chronic conditions, leading to 100,000 preventable deaths and $100 to $300 billion in avoidable medical costs per year?

Medications are the primary intervention in treating and preventing disease. For most conditions, medications need to be taken 80% or more of the time to see an improvement in clinical outcomes.

Understanding the potential challenge

Medication adherence is not just about patients remembering to take their pills. Adherence is a multifaceted issue influenced by several factors, which can include:

• Adherence challenges such as cognitive impairment, history of non‑adherence, and confusion or misunderstandings.
• Concerns for the fear of side effects, perceived lack of benefit, and complex medication regimens.
• Logistical or financial Issues such as transportation difficulties or high medication costs.

Implementing solutions

Identifying patients with adherence issues can be challenging. We recommend incorporating the following strategies into your practice:

• Discuss adherence with patients at each appointment using open‑ended questions.
• Analyze claims or non‑adherence reports to find at‑risk patients.
• Use electronic health records for proactive identification of at‑risk patients.

Tailored and proactive approaches

Once identified, it is essential to tailor solutions to each patient’s unique needs:

• Simplify regimens using once‑daily doses and 90‑day supplies with refills.
• Educate patients by clearly explaining medication benefits and risks.
• Streamline prescribing with real‑time prescription benefits.
• Reduce pharmacy visits using e‑prescribe to CarelonRx for home delivery.

Spotlight on success

When patients struggle with controlling their condition, consider medication non‑adherence as a potential reason. Care providers can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by employing these strategies.