Cost‐Sharing Increase, Medication Adherence, and Hospitalizations in Schizophrenia Patients: A Natural Experiment

Abstract

Study Highlights WHAT IS THE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE ON THE TOPIC? Cost-sharing increases in medication have been associated with decreases in adherence, however, no causal link between raises and hospitalization events has been proven. WHAT QUESTION DID THIS STUDY ADDRESS? Is a free-to-fee (0 to 10%) cost-sharing increase in antipsychotic medication associated with poorer adherence and hospitalization events for patients with schizophrenia? WHAT DOES THIS STUDY ADD TO OUR KNOW-LEDGE? Cost-sharing increases for vulnerable mental health populations have severe unintended effects leading to psychiatric hospitalizations. HOW MIGHT THIS CHANGE CLINICAL PHARMA-COLOGY OR TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE?  Cost-sharing increases for psychiatric patients should be avoided or specific countermeasures of patient surveillance should be adopted and evaluated simultaneously.