Conversations about money between physicians and patients often are awkward, but a new study advises physicians to talk about the cost of medications and insurance coverage when they write new prescriptions for their patients. The study, in the November issue of The American Journal of Managed Care, examined patient and physician surveys and audiotapes of 185 office visits with 15 family physicians, 18 internists, and 11 cardiologists in two Sacramento, Calif., healthcare systems.
The findings showed that for only one-third of new prescriptions physicians wrote did they talk about any aspect of cost, insurance, or how patients would obtain the medication. Cardiologists were more likely than internists or family physicians to initiate these discussions. Because medication cost is a critical part of patient compliance, the authors suggest that “interventions should target improving physician knowledge about helping patients achieve affordable medication regimens, as well as stressing the importance of recognizing and addressing cost and acquisition issues with patients.”
