Despite a 30 percent reduction in physician-dispensed drug prices, pills are still significantly less expensive at pharmacies in Connecticut, according to a recent study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute.
Over the past decade, the higher costs of physician-dispensed prescriptions spurred pharmacy fee schedule reform in 18 states, including Connecticut, according to the Connecticut Post.
Physician-dispensing can improve the quality of patient care by making drug access more convenient and compliance easier to track.
Using data from 64 percent of medical claims in the Connecticut worker's compensation system, the study found that physician-dispensing decreased after the new regulations were adopted in 2012. Connecticut's revised fee schedule caps reimbursement for physician-dispensed prescriptions to the average wholesale price of the original product or its therapeutic equivalent.
Over the first two quarters of the reform, the average price per pill decreased for most common prescriptions, according to the report. For seven of nine top drugs, the average price per pill decreased 28 to 49 percent. Nonetheless, the prices of physician-dispensed drugs remained 30 to 74 percent more expensive than pharmacy dispensed drugs, according to the report.
The cost gap may be due in part to pharmacy benefit manager contracts, which allow pharmacies to price below average wholesale prices, according to the report. Price reduction may also be lagging as systems adjust post-reform, causing some of the disparity, the report suggested.
Additional data is being collected to determine the long term impact of the reforms.
More articles on physician issues:
Consumers value objectivity over accuracy when seeking medical information: 8 findings
6 key findings on clinician satisfaction, burnout
UNMC, Nebraska Medicine and Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital announce partnership