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- Title
Should patients receive secondary prevention medications for free after a myocardial infarction? An economic analysis.
- Authors
Choudhry, Niteesh K; Avorn, Jerry; Antman, Elliott M; Schneeweiss, Sebastian; Shrank, William H
- Abstract
Taken in combination, aspirin, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and statins (combination pharmacotherapy) greatly reduce cardiac events. These therapies are underused, even among patients with drug insurance. Out-of-pocket spending is a key barrier to adherence. We estimated the impact of providing combination pharmacotherapy without cost sharing ("full coverage") to insured patients after a myocardial infarction (MI). Under base-case assumptions, compared to standard coverage, three years of full coverage will reduce mortality and reinfarction rates and will save 5,974 per patient. Our analysis suggests that covering combination therapy for such patients will save both lives and money.
- Publication
Health affairs (Project Hope), 2007, Vol 26, Issue 1, p186
- ISSN
1544-5208
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1377/hlthaff.26.1.186