American Journal of Public Health · 2002 · 130 citations · 23 references
Public AffairsHealth PolicyInsuranceDisabilityDisability PolicyHealth InsuranceDisability DataDisability StatisticsMedical Aspects Of DisabilityPrescription Drug CoverageDisability Rate EstimationIncidence Of DisabilityLow IncomeMedicare Prescription Drug CoverageMedication Cost BurdenNational PrevalencePopulation Disability EstimatesPopulation-based Disability Surveys
OBJECTIVES: This study estimated national prevalence rates of medication noncompliance due to cost and resulting health problems among adults with disabilities. METHODS: Analyses involved 25,805 respondents to the Disability Follow-Back Survey, a supplement to the 1994 and 1995 National Health Interview Surveys. RESULTS: Findings showed that about 1.3 million adults with disabilities did not take their medications as prescribed because of cost, and more than half reported health problems as a result. Severe disability, poor health, low income, lack of insurance, and a high number of prescriptions increased the odds of being noncompliant as a result of cost. CONCLUSIONS: Prescription noncompliance due to cost is a serious problem for many adults with chronic disease or disability. Most would not be helped by any of the current proposals to expand Medicare drug coverage.
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