Saturday, April 5, 2008

Restrictive Prescription Drug Policies Hurt Schizophrenics

Harvard study found program made patients 29% more likely to stop, disrupt their meds

Restrictive prescription drug policies can cause schizophrenia patients to stop taking their medications, a Harvard Medical School study suggests.

Researchers looked at Medicare beneficiaries with schizophrenia in Maine before, during and after a policy that required patients to use an authorized medication (step treatment) before they were permitted to be prescribed drugs not on the preferred list. They were compared to Medicare beneficiaries with schizophrenia in New Hampshire, where there was no such regulation.

The study found that the Maine patients were 29 percent more likely to stop or disrupt medication when subject to the tightened policy. In addition, the restrictive drug policy -- originally designed to reduce costs -- provided only minimal savings.

READ MORE @ US NEWS & WORLD REPORT