Free Medications Could Improve Adherence: MI FREEE trial

Eliminating drug copayments for patients following a myocardial infarction reduced vascular events without increasing overall costs for insurers in the prospective randomized MI FREEE trial.

Although the Post-Myocardial Infarction Free Rx Event and Economic Evaluation trial had only a "modest" impact on medication adherence and missed its primary end point, the findings were dramatic enough that study sponsor Aetna has announced it will waive copayments for its post-MI patients beginning January 2013, lead author Dr. Niteesh Choudhry said at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association.

To read more click here: Internal Medicine News 

Patient Adherence: The Next Frontier in Patient Care

Each year, Capgemini publishes an in-depth analysis of a major life sciences issue. In their 9^th edition of Vision & Reality, entitled “Patient Adherence: The Next Frontier in Patient Care," they focus on patient adherence – or rather the lack thereof. There is growing recognition that non-adherence to prescribed treatment is a major public health issue. In the US, it is estimated that additional care for non-adherent patients results in more than $300 billion of unnecessary costs to the healthcare industry each year.

For pharmaceutical companies, improvement in patient adherence represents a significant revenue opportunity that is largely untapped today. In this report, they analyze the current state of patient adherence and the challenges and key success factors involved in improving it.

To read the full report please click here.

High tech tools: enhancing adherence with a car

Ford and WellDoc have collaborated on in-car accessibility to WellDoc's comprehensive cloud-based personalized solutions for those with asthma and diabetes through SYNC Services providing real-time patient coaching, behavioral education and medication adherence support based on their historic and current disease information.