For Immediate Release — Monday, January 21, 2008
Wilson Health Information reports Diabetes households fill over 50% more prescriptions than household average – Treatment Satisfaction shows steady decline
NEW HOPE, PA – (Business Wire) – January 21, 2008 – Wilson Health Information, a leading healthcare consumer insight firm, reports from its latest study of household consumers that approximately 25% of households have at least one member with Diabetes and that those households fill 53% more prescriptions per year, or an average of 17 different medications, compared to the average household without diabetes. Diabetes households spend an average of $106 per month on prescription medications, 36% more than non diabetes households.
Further adding to the expense of treating diabetes, the study shows that diabetes households have higher utilization of health care services including visits to primary care and specialist physicians, hospital admissions, outpatient visits, pharmacy visits, and are less likely to have access to a computer. Type 2 insulin using diabetes households make more visits in a year to their primary care doctor, an average of 4.1 visits per year which is 24% higher than the average household. Twenty percent (20.1%) of Type 2 insulin using household respondents visit a specialist six or more times a year versus 12.6% for the study average, and Type 2 insulin-using and Type 1 Insulin dependent households are admitted to the hospital as in-patients 64% and 62% more often, respectively than the average household.
Figure1 – (click to enlarge) Diabetes households show significantly
higher
Provider and Pharmacy Utilization.
The survey shows that diabetes households are almost twice as likely to be covered by government sponsored health plans than by commercial payers. Diabetes Households covered by TRICARE are most highly satisfied among government health insurers. Among commercial health insurers, members of Independence Blue Cross and BC/BS of Alabama tie as the highest rated. Households who are self insured or are covered by the Veteran’s Administration, Medicare or Medical assistance are least likely to have prescription drug coverage.
Figure2 – (click to enlarge) Self Insured, VA and Medicare coverage households
are least
likely to have prescription drug coverage among diabetes households.
Among diabetes households with prescription drug coverage, members of TRICARE are the most satisfied in government sponsored plans and within commercial PBM members, there is a tie between Health Net and Walgreens Health Initiative members’ satisfaction with their diabetes treatment.
“Unfortunately, we found that 33.9% of diabetes households did not fill all of their prescriptions and 73% report that they did not take their medications as prescribed” said third generation pharmacist, Jim Wilson, President of Wilson Health Information. “Not only are diabetes patients in poorer health, have more co-morbidities and take more medications, they are less likely to have prescription drug coverage and be compliant with their treatment regimens” added Wilson. In the treatment of diabetes, the pharmacist can play a key role in helping patients improve their treatment. “We found that diabetes households had higher importance ratings for pharmacists who are friendly and courteous, who give clear instructions about medications and where they were able to access their pharmacist if they had questions or concerns. They also rated the ability to get information about their medications and getting help with insurance problems as more important in diabetes households compared to all respondents. Pharmacy customers using supermarket pharmacy, Giant Foods, a division of Ahold, are the most highly satisfied with their diabetes treatment.
Between 2004 and 2007 there has been a steady decline in the overall treatment satisfaction reported. “These findings suggest that despite the availability of more advanced methods of diagnosis, there continues to be a lack of adequate insurance coverage and coverage of prescription medications and testing supplies”, said Wilson. “Here is a key area where the pharmacist can assist patients and help to ensure optimal outcomes and treatment satisfaction.”
Figure3 – (click to enlarge) Overall satisfaction with diabetes treatment has declined
since 2004 from a mean score of 3.51 in 2004 to a score of 3.44 in 2007.
The WilsonRx® Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Report™ contains responses from 8,288 diabetes household respondents among the 33,531 evaluated in its most recent national study conducted throughout the Continental United States and provides meaningful analysis of more than 300 survey topics, including demographics, utilization, and satisfaction with Health Insurance, Pharmacy Benefit Manager and Pharmacy. Medical condition Treatment Satisfaction Reports are available for over 50 medical conditions and reports are available for sale by contacting Aubrey McWatt at 215-345-5469 aubrey@wilsonrx.com.
THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE USED FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES WITHOUT EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM WILSON HEALTH INFORMATION, LLC
