Medication Adherence: Americans Earn Poor Marks in Recent Report

We know that optimizing the use of medicine plays an important role in lowering costs and improving health outcomes. So how are our nation’s patients doing in sticking to their prescribed medications?

We know that optimizing the use of medicine plays an important role in lowering costs and improving health outcomes. So how are our nation’s patients doing in sticking to their prescribed medications?

Not so great, according to a new national report card on medication adherence by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). Americans aged 40 and older received a C+ average and one-in-seven patients with chronic conditions received an F. The report assessed factors such as the frequency with which patients failed to fill or refill a prescription, missed a dose, stopped taking a medication early, took an old medication for a new problem, or took someone else’s medications.

Poor adherence can carry a hefty price tag. A report released in June by CVS Caremark  breaks down the costs of non-adherence by state, estimating that it costs states between $19 million to $2.1 billion each year.  

The report on patients’ adherence grades nationwide, and what it means for health care quality is available on NCPA's website.