Medication adherence

Did you know that one in five patients don’t fill their prescriptions as directed? And among those who do, half of them don’t take their medications as prescribed?

Medication nonadherence can have life-threatening consequences, and costs our healthcare system $100 billion in avoidable hospitalizations. It’s no wonder why patient adherence is a high priority for providers, insurance payers, and pharmacies. 

When it comes to value-based care, payers and healthcare professionals (HCPs) are eager to improve the longevity and quality of life of their members. A top priority to reach this goal is to improve medication adherence rates, which, when low, can adversely impact the overall quality of life, healthcare costs, and population health of the country. 

For patients managing a chronic medical condition, day-to-day care can feel like a full-time job. Between juggling doctors’ visits, monitoring health data and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it’s easy for things like taking daily medication to slip through the cracks. Indeed, medication non-adherence is one of the most widespread health care issues among millions of individuals. It’s also one of the least talked about. 

Older adults are taking more medications than ever to treat their medical conditions. Here are the statistics on polypharmacy & how to help you or a loved one prevent medication misuse.