Meaningful Transparency Lowers Health Costs, Improves Quality and the Consumer Experience Lida Etemad, PharmD, VP Pharmacy Management Strategies, UnitedHealthcareThe number one identified issue for voters in the 2018 midterm elections was health care costs, and a poll conducted in March by Politico and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health confirms that trend continues with 76 percent of respondents citing high health care costs as a serious problem. The same poll found that the price of prescription drugs is also an issue of concern with half of Americans switching from a brand name drug to a generic drug to save money. Because of the rising prices of prescription drugs, we’re working to expand the tools doctors and consumers have to understand how much they will pay for their prescription drug before they get to the pharmacy counter. Toward this end, UnitedHealth Group has developed and implemented a digital tool, PreCheck MyScript, available in the doctor’s office, right at the point of prescribing. Integrated into electronic medical record platforms, the tool provides physicians the ability to see and provide meaningful information to patients about their anticipated out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy. This information is provided and shared before the patient leaves the physician’s office, so there are no surprises at the pharmacy counter. So far, the tool is making a real difference, enabling patients to save an average of $135 per prescription. As State lawmakers consider solutions to help increase transparency, we encourage them to consider expanding the use of meaningful real-time transparency tools that would provide doctors and consumers visibility into drug coverage, formulary options, and cost information at the point of prescribing.Find out more at https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/ |
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