Dennis, a retired music store owner, plays guitar in his living room. After major life changes, he struggled to afford asthma treatment until working with his provider to find the right medication and affordability options.
Dennis, a retired music store owner, plays guitar in his living room. After major life changes, he struggled to afford asthma treatment until working with his provider to find the right medication and affordability options.
Dennis races his daughter Annie, 21, something he had trouble doing before finding the right asthma medication.
After trying a couple therapies, Dennis worked closely with his provider to find and afford the best medication to treat his asthma.
Like many this year, Dennis had to continue managing his health through significant life changes.
Dennis enjoys a hike on a sunny day in Massachusetts.
Because of their established relationship, Dennis' provider was able to recognize symptoms of depression during a telehealth appointment.
Dennis shares a moment with his daughter, Annie, an important, though non-medical, member of his care team.
Patient Engagement
‘I was struggling and feeling really bad, and he could tell in my mannerisms’
In this digital version of the 2021 Medication Access Report, hear from patients struggling to get the medications they need, review data on major medication access challenges and discover healthcare solutions that can make a difference.
For a deeper look into the data driving this year's report, download the full 2021 Medication Access Report.
Editor: Patient last names have been omitted to protect their privacy.
Dennis and his daughter, Annie, then 21, stood together at the bottom of a steep incline in the French Alps in August 2019. Annie turned to her dad with a challenge in her eye, as she always did on their travels when they came to a staircase or ascent.
“Race ya,” she said.
The pair took off running, and for the first time ever, Dennis reached the top before her. When he turned around, he found disbelief in Annie’s face. It wasn’t just that her dad, nearing 70, had beat her in a race. A couple years earlier, his lungs were only operating at 66-percent capacity due to severe asthma. The fact that he made it up the hill at all was astounding. He credits finding the right prescription medication and his enthusiastic, informed specialist for his nearly fully restored lung function.
Dennis races his daughter Annie, 21, something he had trouble doing before finding the right asthma medication.
“In most (doctor’s) appointments, we all hope or wish there was something new,” Dennis said, recalling his visit to the specialist earlier that year. “But this time there was a breakthrough, and (my doctor) was excited about it because she knew what it would mean to those of us afflicted.”
Though the breakthrough medication made a dramatic difference in his lung health, the price tag took his breath away: a $700 insurance copay each month. He talked with his doctor about affordability options. Luckily, she had some free samples to offer him that lifted the financial burden for a few months.
After trying a couple therapies, Dennis worked closely with his provider to find and afford the best medication to treat his asthma.
Patient-provider trust can make or break medication access barriers. Over a third of patients said they avoided asking their provider about medication affordability, while more than 60 percent of providers said they may wait for the patient to bring up financial concerns before discussing medication price and affordability.CoverMyMeds Patient Survey, 2020,CoverMyMeds Provider Survey, 2020 This chess match benefits no one.
After the COVID-19 economy created financial strain and the free samples ran out, Dennis had to make a hard choice.
“I had stopped taking this wonderful drug that had improved my lung health because I could no longer pay for it,” he said.
This isn’t uncommon: Two-thirds of patients surveyed went to pick up a prescription only to find it cost more than expected.CoverMyMeds Patient Survey, 2020 As a result, over a third of those patients abandoned their medications.CoverMyMeds Patient Survey, 2020 On top of financial concerns and going without his medication, Dennis also endured significant changes in his personal life as a long-term relationship came to an end and he was forced to relocate.
Like many this year, Dennis had to continue managing his health through significant life changes.
“COVID is almost a sideshow for me,” Dennis said. “Imagine ending a relationship and moving from the home you've lived in for years amid a pandemic.”
His primary care provider reached out to patients after COVID-19 office closures to set up “check-in” telehealth appointments, especially for patients experiencing hardships due to the recent pandemic. It was during this appointment that his provider noticed — even through a computer screen — something was different about Dennis.
Dennis enjoys a hike on a sunny day in Massachusetts.
“I was struggling and feeling really bad, and he could tell in my mannerisms,” he said. “It was an amazing moment.”
One positive aspect of telehealth some providers noted was a better understanding of their patients as people.Have EHRs Been a Burden or an Asset During the Coronavirus?, EHR Intelligence, 2020 Seeing patients in their own homes can bring providers closer to the things patients care about most — which can help providers make better care and prescribing decisions. By understanding the many pressures and facets of patients’ lives, providers can better understand the best care plan for patients and, further, collaborate on the best way for them to access medications.
Go deeper into this year's full report to discover more data-driven insights and analysis — including how technology solutions can support the care team. Download the full 2021 Medication Access Report.
The provider prescribed a medication to help treat depression that Dennis said made a dramatic difference during a challenging year.
Eighty-six percent of providers surveyed reported having a positive experience using telehealth, with one-third of providers noting decreased patient no-show rates.CoverMyMeds Provider Survey, 2020 Unfortunately, nearly 40 percent noted an increase in administrative burden, as telehealth appointments often involve a single provider handling all aspects of a patient visit.CoverMyMeds Provider Survey, 2020,Pandemic-era burnout: How physicians manage crushing workloads and IT demands, Healthcare IT News, 2020
Because of their established relationship, Dennis' provider was able to recognize symptoms of depression during a telehealth appointment.
Integrated technology that provides visibility into medication payment and alternative options can aid the improvement of telehealth by aggregating more tools in one location. When supported by point-of-prescribing solutions that offer affordability options, medication information and ePA, providers can fully address patient concerns, whether through a screen or in-person.
Patient relationships with their pharmacists could also benefit from improved conversations and tools to buoy them. More than half of patients surveyed said they asked their pharmacist or provider about cheaper alternatives when their prescriptions cost too much.CoverMyMeds Patient Survey, 2020 And providers and pharmacists agreed the task of helping patients find medication affordability options most often fell on pharmacists.CoverMyMeds Provider Survey, 2020,CoverMyMeds Pharmacist Survey, 2020
Dennis shares a moment with his daughter, Annie, an important, though non-medical, member of his care team.
Patients like Kathy (who was featured in the healthcare consumerism section of the 2021 Medication Access Report) are recognizing pharmacists’ evolving role as providers more often.
“I think pharmacists are one of the most important parts of what I call my healthcare advisory board,” Kathy said. “I have no hesitancy to pick up a phone and call there. They’re easy to get through to and the doctors are not.”
Seventy-two percent of patients regularly asked their pharmacist questions about medications.CoverMyMeds Patient Survey, 2020 Pharmacists said the questions they answer are most often about medication price, drug information, alternative affordability options and PA status.CoverMyMeds Pharmacist Survey, 2020 Pharmacists also most want to see these pieces in their ideal tool, with PA status topping the list.CoverMyMeds Pharmacist Survey, 2020
Pharmacists need tools to effectively field patient questions and problem-solve when affordability issues come up. Staying in-workflow is critically important: 82 percent of pharmacists said it’s important or very important to integrate their ideal tool into their current pharmacy dispensing system.CoverMyMeds Pharmacist Survey, 2020 Pharmacists using an integrated solution including real-time PA status updates saw a 14 percent increase in paid claims, on average.CoverMyMeds data on file, 2019
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Advisory Board
The Medication Access Report is developed in consultation with an advisory board of healthcare experts representing major organizations across the industry — each with unique perspectives, interests and opinions.
