Prescription Drug Therapies: Reducing Costs and Improving Outcomes. Research in Action Issue 8

摘要

Americans spent over $553 billion for health care in 1997. Over $200 billion was spent for hospitalizations, $180 billion for ambulatory care, and $72 billion for prescription medicine. Since 1991, prescription drug costs have soared, increasing faster than the inflation rate. The issue of prescription drug costs has captured the attention of legislators and policymakers, insurers, health care providers, and consumers asking the question: Which medicines work best at the lowest cost. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has funded research that helps to answer questions about prescription medicine. AHRQ research has: Identified conditions for which drug therapy is not necessary; Discovered low-cost drug therapies that provide patients with the same quality of care as more expensive drugs; Revealed that sometimes the newest, most expensive drug therapy reduces costs overall because it keeps patients healthier and less likely to use other health care services; and Investigated the cost effectiveness and safety of outpatient vs. inpatient services and the impact of preventive drug therapy.