Cost considerations may have an effect on physician prescribing decisions when it comes to antibiotics, according to a paper published in Health Economics.
Researchers examined the effects of a commercial free-antibiotics program on retail sales of antibiotics in the U.S.
They found a move in physician prescription from antibiotics not covered under the program to the free prescriptions. The effect was stronger in areas with lower patient income.
The study notes these findings contradict previous studies examining the effect of price on prescription preference.
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