Medication adherence is a relatively simple concept that many patient populations have trouble putting into practice. According to Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), “32 million Americans use three or more medicines daily.” However, among these patients, “75% of adults are non-adherent in one or more ways.” The PhRMA estimates that non-adherent patients cost the U.S. health care system millions of dollars in avoidable costs, stating: “The economic impact of non-adherence is estimated to cost 0 billion annually.”

The Cost Factor Extrapolated
At Drug Package, one of our core reasons for providing innovative medication packaging that improves medication adherence is to help keep healthcare costs under control — and not just for insurance companies, for everyone. When patients fail to take medication as prescribed they often end up back in the hospital or at doctor’s office creating more expense for themselves and insurance companies. The more payable claims that are submitted to insurers, the more they must increase insurance premiums to maintain their bottom line. Ultimately, the increases can make insurance too costly for some patients, and thus increase the likelihood of non-adherence.

How Pharmacies Can Benefit
Despite being viewed as drug dispensaries that simply provide medication that physicians prescribe, pharmacies play a crucial role in supporting medication adherence, especially in terms of providing medication packaging for populations that have difficulty maintaining adherence. A pharmacy can’t be with a patient every time he should take his medicine, but it can provide unique packaging solutions that help him take the medication as prescribed.

Blister packs are an example of medicine packaging that pharmacies can use to help increase adherence rates. These packs, which separate single pills — or collections of pills that should be taken simultaneously — into plastic blisters that can easily be punched, help keep patients on the dosing schedule that their physician establishes. Blister packs can do this in several ways.

• Providing schedules for multiple daily doses
• Make medicine easier to access for the motor-impaired
• Show patients or caregivers at a glance if a dose has been missed

At Drug Package, the main goal of our drug packaging solutions is to help pharmacies assist patients with medication compliance. However, by extension, increasing compliance also increases benefits to pharmacies. If your pharmacy is interested in promoting the multiple benefits that come from our unique medication packaging, call us today at (800) 325-6137, or complete our contact form. We look forward to serving you!