Post by stcks on May 5, 2017 16:45:39 GMT
Prescription Growth in Younger Patients is Driven by Usage, While Growth in Older Patients is Due to Population
* Patients over 65 had declining per capita usage of prescriptions from 2011 to 2016 while driving most of the population growth in the country as “baby boomers” reached retirement age and many continue to live longer.
* Adults aged 26-64 accounted for 99% of the 402Mn of incremental prescriptions from rising per capita usage, as both groups benefited significantly from Medicaid expansion and insurance exchanges under the ACA.
* Overall, the aging population is driving higher prescription usage. This is mainly occurring through population growth, with patients over 50 accounting for 682Mn of the 884Mn incremental prescriptions over the past five years, 70% of that from a rising share of the population, and 30% from higher usage, all from the 50-64 age group. Patients over 65 had declining usage.
Prescriptions Dispensed at Zero Patient Out-of-Pocket Cost Reached Thirty Percent in 2016
* 29.9% of prescriptions have been dispensed at zero patient out-of-pocket cost, including brands and generics, up 1.5% since 2015, all due to increased use of zero cost generics.
* The total share of prescriptions where patients paid some amount less than $50 declined by 1.3% to 67.8% in 2016.
* The proportion of claims with patient cost exposure greater than $50 increased also declined slightly from 2.5% to 2.3% in 2016.
Since 2013, Average Out-of-Pocket Costs for All Brand and Generic Prescriptions has Decreased by $1.19
* Average patient out of pocket costs declined from $9.66 in 2013 to $8.47 in 2016, with 2016 brand costs declining to $28.31 from $32.36 in 2013 and generics dipping to $5.54 from a high of $6.05 in 2013.
* The list prices of brands continue to be far higher than the average paid by patients, as few patients are exposed to those costs in their insurance plans.
* The average list price for brands averaged 12 times higher than the average out of pocket cost for patients in 2016 compared to 3 times higher for generics.
* Patients over 65 had declining per capita usage of prescriptions from 2011 to 2016 while driving most of the population growth in the country as “baby boomers” reached retirement age and many continue to live longer.
* Adults aged 26-64 accounted for 99% of the 402Mn of incremental prescriptions from rising per capita usage, as both groups benefited significantly from Medicaid expansion and insurance exchanges under the ACA.
* Overall, the aging population is driving higher prescription usage. This is mainly occurring through population growth, with patients over 50 accounting for 682Mn of the 884Mn incremental prescriptions over the past five years, 70% of that from a rising share of the population, and 30% from higher usage, all from the 50-64 age group. Patients over 65 had declining usage.
Prescriptions Dispensed at Zero Patient Out-of-Pocket Cost Reached Thirty Percent in 2016
* 29.9% of prescriptions have been dispensed at zero patient out-of-pocket cost, including brands and generics, up 1.5% since 2015, all due to increased use of zero cost generics.
* The total share of prescriptions where patients paid some amount less than $50 declined by 1.3% to 67.8% in 2016.
* The proportion of claims with patient cost exposure greater than $50 increased also declined slightly from 2.5% to 2.3% in 2016.
Since 2013, Average Out-of-Pocket Costs for All Brand and Generic Prescriptions has Decreased by $1.19
* Average patient out of pocket costs declined from $9.66 in 2013 to $8.47 in 2016, with 2016 brand costs declining to $28.31 from $32.36 in 2013 and generics dipping to $5.54 from a high of $6.05 in 2013.
* The list prices of brands continue to be far higher than the average paid by patients, as few patients are exposed to those costs in their insurance plans.
* The average list price for brands averaged 12 times higher than the average out of pocket cost for patients in 2016 compared to 3 times higher for generics.