The impact of drug samples on prescribing to the uninsured

Southern Medical Journal
David P MillerWilliam P Moran

Abstract

To determine whether drug samples are associated with physicians prescribing fewer generic, less costly medications. We conducted a retrospective study at a large university-affiliated internal medicine practice containing over 70 physicians. Using a pharmacy database, we identified all prescriptions written to uninsured or Medicaid patients that belonged to one of four classes of chronic medications. For the 9 months before and after the clinic closed its drug sample closet, we calculated the percentage of medications prescribed as generics and the mean cost of a 30-day supply of a prescription. Of 8911 prescriptions, 1973 met inclusion criteria. For uninsured patients, the percentage of medications prescribed as generics rose from 12% to 30% after the clinic closed its drug sample closet (P = 0.004). By consecutive three month periods, the percentage of prescribed generic medications rose steadily to a maximum of 40% (P < 0.001). For Medicaid patients, there was no significant change in generic prescribing (63% generic with samples versus 65% generic without samples, P = 0.42). Two factors were associated with generic prescribing in logistic regression: the absence of drug samples (OR 4.54, 95% CI 1.37-15.0) and the prescribe...Continue Reading

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Sep 3, 2010·Journal of General Internal Medicine·Richard G PinckneyElizabeth Cote
Nov 23, 2010·JAAPA : Official Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants·Timothy F Quigley
Aug 20, 2011·JAAPA : Official Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants·Jim Anderson
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